 | In her new book, "Overcoming Dyslexia," School of Medicine researcher Dr. Sally Shaywitz seeks to dispel the popular misconceptions about the reading disorder. |
The goal of "Overcoming Dyslexia," a new book by School of Medicine researcher Dr. Sally Shaywitz, is to translate groundbreaking research on the disorder -- including brain imaging studies -- into practical methods and programs that can be used by every teacher and parent.
Shaywitz, professor in the Department of Pediatrics and at the Yale Child Study Center, says another goal of her book is to show that extremely smart, well-known people were also dyslexic. These include investment expert Charles Schwab; author John Grisham; noted physician scientists like Graeme Hammond and the late Harvey Cushing, founder of modern neurosurgery, who was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Sir William Osler; cartoonists Scott Adams of "Dilbert" fame and Dar Pilkey, creator of "Mr. Underpants"; entertainer Jay Leno; and Paul J. Orfalea, founder of Kinko's.
People with dyslexia have excellent thinking and reasoning skills, and a great ability to conceptualize and think creatively, yet they struggle to understand basic reading patterns, explains Shaywitz.
"It's a paradox," she says. "People wonder how they can be so smart and can't read well. But we understand that now. It's not something to be ashamed of; it can be treated. And I want that to be the take-away message from the book."
Since her book was published by Alfred A. Knopf in April, people from all over the country have contacted Shaywitz expressing gratitude. "They say the information in the book has opened their eyes and helped them gain a better understanding of how the disease affects themselves and their children and what the next step is," says Shaywitz.
Dyslexia is a very common reading disorder, affecting one in five people. It is often not identified until the third grade or later. Shaywitz says people misunderstand dyslexia. "They think it's an odd problem affecting a small number of people," she notes. "Dyslexia affects many people and it's not that they can't read, but that reading requires great effort."
The book tells what specific clues to look for at pre-school, kindergarten and first, second and later grades, as well as in young adults and adults. If dyslexia is suspected, steps can be taken to improve reading, notes the Yale physician.
"We can now identify dyslexia accurately and early," says Shaywitz. "The signs are even visible in the pre-school period. We can take those signs, identify affected children and adults and provide highly effective science-based reading programs. We can help just about every child and adult become a better reader."
According to Shaywitz, the secret to reading is learning how to link the sounds of spoken language to the letters used to write the words. The key to helping children and adults with dyslexia, she maintains, is to uncover reading problems early and then to help them connect sounds to letters. Parents who devote 20 minutes a day to helping their children sound out words will see their children become more adept readers, she says.
-- By Karen Peart
T H I S
Pediatrician discusses 'paradox'
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