On this year’s Dyslexia Day. a University Don, Prof Ifeoma Udoye has advocated early detection. revealing scientifically proven methods of tackling the disorder in school children. The 2024 Dyslexia Day is to raise awareness about the worrisome reading disorder.
In the keynote address presented at the 2024 Dyslexia Day organised by Women Foundation for Improved Living standards in collaboration with Nwafor Orizu College’s Primary school, Anambra State, Udoye enumerated the following methods that can help Parents and Teachers in identifying young children who are at the risk of reading and learning difficulties referred to as Dyslexia:
Udoye stressed the need for parents to keep eyes on Children’s linguistic growth such as difficulty in pronounciation and rhyme.
She also stated that there was a need to observe children’s inability to connect print to language like naming individual letters,
Others she recommended are: know your family history and be alert to genetically inherited problem of speaking, reading, writing or learning foreign language transferred to children.
Udoye who is the Sub-Dean, Faculty of Arts, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra state, explained that Dyslexia is not a disease but difficulty in learning to read which impacts on a child’s capacity to identify and manipulate linguistic sounds or comprehend new words.
According to her, one in every 5 children have Dyslexia and 80 percent to 90 percent of children with learning disabilities are termed dyslexic while undiagnosed children carry the condition to adulthood.
She pointed out that many children go undiagnosed as challenges in schools are mistakenly attributed to low IQ, low level of efforts or environmental circumstances with the attendant consequence of causing low self esteem, anxiety and depression.
The linguistics professor noted that early detection and intervention are paramount as research has shown that 70 percent of dyslexic children who receive educational intervention in kindergarten or first grade become proficient readers and manifest other hidden talents.
Udoye therefore called on government at all levels, policy makers, parents and teachers to take collective and decisive action on formulating and implementing policies to combat Dyslexia in children nationwide.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to Anambra State Governor, Obiora Nwachukwu commended the efforts of the organisers and stressed the need for sustained public awareness campaigns to end stereotypes and stigmatisation of dyslexic children.
Nwachukwu gave the assurance that Anambra State Government is strongly committed to tackling the problem of dyslexia in schools across the State.
Another Speaker at the event, Mr Ezenwanne Obinna said 32 million Nigerians school children suffer from dyslexia with 30-50 percent chances of being inherited genetically.
Obinna said the dyslexic persons can still be successful in life citing personalities like billionaire entrepreneur, Richard Branson, ace journalist Anderson Cooper, actress Jennifer Anniston and a host of others.
