Dr Pauline Cogan gives an insight into dyslexia
MORE than 65 people gathered in Gorey Library for a discussion on dyslexia by Dr Pauline Cogan.
Pauline identified the five various types of dyslexia and encouraged parents to see this as a ‘different way of learning’ rather than a disorder.
Dyslexia can be a barrier to learning and key to positive outcomes for dyslexic children is early diagnosis. Children often fall behind in their potential due to late diagnosis.
Pauline gave practical advice to parents and emphasised the importance of reading with their children and encouraging word recognition rather than phonics. Her main advice was ‘slow down, hear it back and teach with love’.
She described the experience of being dyslexic as ‘travelling permanently in a foreign country’. As the English language is an amalgam of 23 different languages, dyslexia is particularly prevalent in English speaking countries. She also spoke about the benefits of audio resources in conjunction with reading.
Pauline also spoke about dyspraxia which affects handwriting, motor processing and fine motor movement. She recommended a resource that Dublin libraries are using which involves a touch typing teaching method which is particularly useful to dyslexic/dyspraxic children or adults. Gorey librarian Barbara Nolan said the audience really enjoyed it.