Connection Between
Dyslexia and Right-Brained Learners
by Topsy-Techie
Disclaimer: The opinions stated in this essay are
those of Topsy-Techie and do not necessarily represent
those of AVKO.
Dyslexia affects a large population of
the public, especially now that we understand that it is
not limited to people who “read their letters
backwards.” Rather, dyslexia encompasses a host of
varying reading, spelling, and writing disabilities or
differences.
Another characteristic that affects a large
population of the public is right-brained thinking. This
refers to individuals with strong visual skills and
memory who tend to store and access information mostly
in picture form. For the
right brained learner, pictures
are their main line of information - - words are
secondary sources at most.
Researchers have been making connections in recent
years between right-brained thinking and dyslexia. It
makes sense that those who struggle with word-based
tasks might not be “learning disabled” as much as they
are just “learning different”. In fact, in
visual
spatial skills, even right-brained learners who are
severely dyslexic can outperform their left-brained
peers 2 to 1. While logical, or sequential tasks can
stump them, these learners can show incredible strength
in holistic and creative tasks.
This being the case, children with dyslexia should
definitely be tested for brain dominance. If your child
seems to be a visual thinker, then it will not be enough
to just “treat” the dyslexia. Right-brained visual
learners need to be taught in specific ways that will
capitalize on their strengths and minimize their
weaknesses.
One of the keys to successful teaching of right
brained learners is using multimedia. The more visually
appealing the materials, the more engaged your
right-brained learner will be. These students can
benefit from educational software and videos, multimedia
online games, online homeschool curriculum. Programs
such as United Streaming and Cable in the Classroom are
wonderful for helping to find educational programming
that will supplement whatever your child is learning
with visual reinforcement.
Visual learners soak in information from television,
computers, and videos, but they also need time to let
the information soak in, and time to do what they do
best - - learn by demonstration. Field trips are
incredibly important for right-brained kids. In fact,
almost anything your child is studying can be enhanced
by real world experiences. If they are studying American
history, take them to local historic sites. If they are
studying food and nutrition, find out which grocery
stores or restaurants in your area are willing to host
behind the scenes tours. Right-brained learners thrive
on up-close and personal interaction with their subject
of study.
If your child has
dyslexia and right-brained
dominance, it is important not to focus on their
“disability,” but rather emphasize their learning
differences and strengths. Just because they may
struggle with traditional spelling and writing
instruction does not mean that they do not have the
ability to learn. If information is presented to them in
a way their brain can process it, there are no
limitations to what a right-brained learner can do!
For further information on teaching a right-brained,
visual learner, you might want to check out
Right
Brained Children in a Left Brained World by Jeffrey
Freed and Laurie Parsons.
Author: Topsy-Techie is a homeschooling mother
and online writer. She writes the
blog about learning to
write at Time4Writing.com and the
homeschooling blog at
Time4Learning.com.
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