Dyslexia and Reading For Fun

The crows decided to have a noisy convention this afternoon, in the trees above my head.

Is this a Halloween omen? I am spending a lovely day in my garden, reading, one of my favorite free things to do. As entertainment goes, it is by far the most comfortable way to while away some quiet time. As a reading and writing tutor, I often work with students who have problems with dyslexia, and don’t seem able to enjoy the pleasures of reading for fun. But there are ways to join the club that these students can enjoy too. I know, because I am dyslexic.

Most people think they do not read as fast as everyone else. Surveys show the great majority of people are insecure about their reading ability. Recent research finds that many children and adults actually use their brain differently from people who find reading fast and easy—which means, they learn differently too. Many people who have dyslexia are better at auditory learning. In fact, many dyslexics have better listening skills than average, and find listening to both fiction and nonfiction very enjoyable.

Parents and adult dyslexics should look into audio books. Audio books have become very popular with commuters, causing a renaissance in the industry. Many books are fully reader’s theater quality, with multiple actors reading for the various characters. The cost is often comparable to the price of books. Many schools have collections of audio versions of their textbooks. Most of the textbooks are available online in audio format.

The Internet is, as always, a rich resource. Free podcasts on many subjects of interest to students are available online. iTunes is a ready resource for podcasts, as well as for free University lectures, but there are many other resources on line available by searching.

One caution I would like to include: when audio textbooks are being used, students should take notes, which should then be organized as it is learned. It is important that information be organized for later recall.