The Truth about Dyslexia
From 1783 to 1826, Noah Webster's "American Speller" - using phonics (letter sounds) - had increased literacy to over 95% of the population. Thus, dyslexia is not truly genetic. In 1826 some sight-word methods from the deaf school of Thomas Gallaudet began to infiltrate American education, and reading problems started- and increased- in earnest.
In spite of evidence to the contrary, sight-reading methods continued to be developed and the propaganda machine continues to push them on the unwitting public. Now 58% of 5th-graders can't read on grade level, and they fall behind further each year. Notice how the problem increases with each successive grade? 4th-grade reports 40% struggling. Thank the Whole Language fiasco, et al.
From 1967 to 1995, Project Follow Through, a government-funded experiment in education, spread sight-reading all across the country, getting its curriculum legislated into most state laws. Teachers' hands were now tied to dyslexia-causing methods even if they knew phonics was the key to fluent reading.
Education has steadily declined, and dyslexia has steadily increased. (So have commercial tutors such as Sylvan Learning Center® and Kumon®, as well as homeschooling.)
So, if dyslexia is obviously not truly genetic, what are its biological components? What does that mean? Why do some children struggle more with sight-reading than others? Why does it seem to run in families?
It's not because they genetically inherited dyslexia. The answer is that they may have a hearing-processing problem in their brain neurons. This can lead to speech problems, which can be a precursor of dyslexia. Some may also have a harder time memorizing, and sight-words require a lot more memory than phonics reading (See VAS Theory in Vol. 3 of It's Not Rocket Surgery!).
Some children have sensory overload as infants and toddlers, so their neuron development shuts down in certain areas, especially hearing-processing. Their ears work fine, but the brain nerves don't process the signals quickly enough.
Even if it’s a genetic predisposition, this can be fixed with phonics. Reading should happen on the left side of the brain; sight-words put it on the right side, defectively. Phonics can fix this; it re-wires the brain properly.
You, mom and dad, are the key!
http://thegodfreymethod.com/blog/saving-jack-and-jill-true-history-dyslexia-and-how-fix-it
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