How Jayden Was Able To Succeed Despite His Dyslexia Challenges
It is so important for children with dyslexia to get the right support and help. Getting this support early is critical; the longer children go without intervention, the more likely they are to fall behind their peers.
Typically, interventions begin with a dyslexia assessment before children are taught specialised skills that help them thrive in school and in their later years. In this article, we share how Jayden (not his real name) was able to overcome dyslexia to succeed in closing the gap with his peers at school.
Reading this article should give parents and children an idea of what the road to academic success looks like.To understand Jayden’s journey, we first explore how dyslexia affected him.
HOW DID DYSLEXIA AFFECT JAYDEN’S LEARNING ABILITY?
Dyslexia affects how the brain decodes words and symbols. This can lead to learning issues in some languages and not in others. For example, some children have dyslexia in Chinese but not in English.
Like many children, Jayden had trouble with mathematics; especially when it came to visualising and understanding problem sums. Jayden also found English to be challenging and he experienced difficulties with spelling, reading and pronouncing words correctly. As he grew older, Jayden realised that he grasped concepts more slowly compared to his peers.
As Jayden hadn’t yet been diagnosed, his teachers and parents didn’t understand why he was struggling in school. Some teachers thought that he was just naughty or lazy. Despite working hard, Jayden’s grades weren’t improving. The additional after-school lessons that he attended were no help, either. Trapped in a frustrating situation, Jayden developed tactics for avoiding work, like taking multiple toilet-breaks per class.
In Primary 5, aged 11, Jayden was diagnosed with dyslexia by Frances Yeo, MandarinStars’ current programme director and principal psychologist. When administering Jayden’s dyslexia assessment, Frances analysed his schoolwork, interviewed his parents and observed Jayden’s behaviour. Frances also administered a battery of globally recognised psychoeducational tests that assessed Jayden’s academic challenges. This rigorous process enabled Frances to pinpoint Jayden’s specific learning needs.
FROM PRIMARY 5 TO A-LEVELS: HELPING JAYDEN OVERCOME HIS LEARNING CHALLENGES
Once Jayden received a dyslexia assessment, he was given the support and skills needed to succeed in school. Along with receiving additional help from teachers, Jayden was given access arrangements so that he could complete written examinations under more equitable conditions. These arrangements included being given extra time and having the option to write examinations in a separate room.
Most significantly, Jayden was helped by a teacher who specialised in dyslexia intervention. This teacher gave Jayden techniques for decoding words, along with other strategies that help students with dyslexia cope in school.
But these strategies weren’t a ‘magic bullet solution.’ In Jayden’s own words, “it took time before I started seeing tangible results.” This is because students with dyslexia often require repeated practice to master reading and spelling — a process that can take several years.
While Jayden started receiving extra support for dyslexia starting in Primary 5, it was only in secondary school that his exam scores started to improve. By then, he was able to use his new skills to absorb and process information quickly and efficiently.
Recently, Jayden completed his A-levels and is looking forward to a bright future. While reflecting on his journey, he told us that having dyslexia has shaped him into the determined person he is today. His advice to other students is to stay resilient and trust the process.
“Although it was a long and arduous process, the strategies and tips I learned became a strong foundation for me throughout my life and not just in my studies. I’d encourage those who are struggling now to continue working hard. One day, the skills you are learning will help you tremendously.”
HOW MANDARINSTARS SUPPORTS CHILDREN WITH DYSLEXIA
We have helped many children to overcome their dyslexia-related learning challenges. Combined with dyslexia assessments offered by FY Psychology co-located in the same office, we provide tailored Chinese and English intervention programmes taught by experts who understand how dyslexia affects learning.
Want to learn more about how we’ve helped students like Jayden thrive in school? Click the button below to speak to one of our educational specialists. We can also talk about your child’s unique learning challenges.
