Having strong reading skills is one of the major goals of a very early education program because this skill comes in handy in high school and the university and even past the four walls of the college. Being able to write and spell, and being able to read also helps with these 2 skills. However, some students experience difficulty in literacy skills which can affect them throughout the school curriculum as well as affect their confidence and self-esteem. In this article we shall see What are the common reading problems of students?
While each child learns at their own pace, there may be an underlying reason for the difficulty they experience in this area and it is up to parents and educators to help locate the root of this problem and provide remedies to enable them to make progress and overcome this difficulty and every other difficulty they may face.
There are a lot of reading problems that students may encounter. Some of which may not be so serious and do not require remedial reading help. Some may be easily diagnosed and require a bit more help. Nevertheless, if a student experiences reading problems, it is important to know which area they are struggling with. To that effect, here are some common reading problems that students experience.
- Issues with decoding
- Improper directional tracking
- Poor comprehension skills
- Hearing loss
- ADD
- ADHD
- Poor vision
- Dyslexia
- Speed
When it comes to poor vision and hearing loss, a visit to a physician or family optician may be best. Depending on the severity of the problem, the student may require hearing aids, speech therapy, or prescription eyeglasses to help with this problem as well as to adapt new learning skills to improve their reading.
Improper directional tracking is when the student tries to read words and numbers from right to left instead of left to right. This can also happen when a student sees the letters in a word in reverse or even confuses their order.
When a student has issues with decoding, the student may struggle with breaking down larger words into syllables or smaller words.
When it comes to speed, oftentimes students encounter new words when they read a lot, and the context in which they encounter the word gives them enough clues they need to decipher the meaning of the word, and with time when they continue reading, these words become more familiar to them and their reading speeds up.
When a student has difficulties with poor comprehension skills, they may struggle with understanding what is being said to them, remembering a series of words or numbers, or have issues with following directions.
These issues may be a result of something mild such as hearing loss but may also be a result of other auditory processing disorders.
What are the common signs to look out for?
How can a parent or an educator be able to tell if their child or student is suffering from any of the above common reading problems mentioned above? One sure way to know if they struggle with these problems is if they have poorly developed motor or communication skills. Other common signs may include;
- Lack of focus
- Easily distracted
- As others repeat information frequently
- Inability to pay attention
- Is often squinting or struggles to see things at a distance.
Most of these signs point to poor vision, ADHD, dyslexia, etc. This is why it is important to get the student checked out by a physician as soon as possible to deal with the issue.
What are the solutions to these common reading problems?
The first step to finding a solution is to have the student get checked out by a physician. By doing this you eliminate the possibilities of common problems like hearing loss or poor vision. After this is done, they will be able to refer the student to be seen by a specialist if further testing is required to find out the main cause of the students reading difficulties.
Some other reading strategies that may help include;
- Activate ideas: this consists of helping students activate their prior knowledge of a topic and make them analyze pictures and titles.
- Building vocabulary: this entails introducing new words to the students. The more words they know, the easier it will be to recognize them in reading. This method also helps to work on speaking skills
- Teach the Dolch list: exposing a child to high-frequency terms that are encountered in their books and school worksheets can help the student to save their cognitive energy to be able to decode harder and less frequent words.
If the student is diagnosed with ADD, ADHD or dyslexia, or any other auditory processing disorder, the specialist may recommend seeking remedial reading help.
Conclusion
Reading skill is an important part of a student’s life. Being a fast and efficient reader is important for classroom-based lessons. While students reading skills develops at different rates, it is important to pay attention to each student to know when it is taking longer than usual to develop and also if it is developing at a much slower rate.
Difficulty in reading skills not only affects a student’s performance in class but also affects their confidence. This is why it is important to assess the student as soon as possible and tackle the issue as fast as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What can I do if my child is dyslexic?
When a parent discovers their child is dyslexic, they play an important role in helping the child. They could take the following necessary steps;
- Address the problem early. Speaking to your child’s doctor should be the first step. Early intervention is key.
- Read aloud to your child. Start as early as possible to listen to audiobooks with your child and when the child gets older, read books with and to your child.
- Work with your child’s school. Advocate for your child. Speak to their school about how best they come in helping the situation.
- Encourage reading time. This will improve their reading skills and confidence.
- Set an example for reading. Children emulate adults a lot. Make it a habit to designate some time to read while your child reads as well.
- What are the types of auditory processing disorders and what is the treatment for them?
There are 5 main types of auditory processing disorder. They include;
- Auditory hypersensitivity: they have a poor tolerance for background sounds.
- Phonetic decoding: this is the lack of the ability to process language at the natural language speed
- Auditory integration: this is the slowness of integrating things they hear with things they see.
- Prosodic: this is where they find it difficult to think while listening.
- Organizational deficit: delay in planning.
There is generally no cure for auditory processing disorders, however, there are treatments available but they differ with each child. They usually focus on these areas;
- Classroom support: there are electronic devices that can help the child hear the teacher properly. Teachers can also support them by helping them with a front seat to improve attention and reduce background noise.
- Making other skills stronger: making other skills like problem-solving, memory, can help to improve APD.
- Therapy: speech therapy can play a big role in improving the child’s conversational skills.
