Letter of the Day | Dyslexia: A Jamaican student’s silent cry

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Dyslexia is a significant issue in Jamaica, affecting five to 17.5 per cent of children but often remaining undiagnosed or unsupported within the educational system. This lifelong learning disorder primarily impacts reading, spelling, writing, and math skills, leading to frustration for both learners and their families. Dyslexia presents a genetic component, yet individuals often have average or above-average intelligence, which is frequently overlooked.

A major challenge in Jamaica is the prolonged wait for assessments, which hampers early detection and personalised support. Symptoms of dyslexia include difficulties in decoding words, poor spelling, reading fluency issues, and organisational challenges. Not all students facing these difficulties have dyslexia; accurate diagnoses require formal assessments.

As a parent and a former educator, I experience frustrations over the lack of support for my child, who has yet to receive a formal diagnosis despite clear symptoms. This situation has led to feelings of helplessness and overwhelming stress due to inadequate school support.

Dr Karla Hylton advocates crucial support for learners with dyslexia, suggesting extra test time and typing options to ease the burden of their anxiety, which are often ignored in schools. The importance of creating a supportive home environment and exploring various interventions to help dyslexic children is emphasised.

Despite my best efforts to seek help from teachers and local dyslexia associations, I can attest that access to resources is limited. I am calling on other parents facing similar struggles to connect with me in this fight for justice and help for our struggling wards. Equally, there needs to be suitable, available support channels to offer help and resources for parents, caregivers, teachers and learners with dyslexia.

In conclusion, dyslexia affects not just academic performance, but also the emotional well-being of the affected. I am committed to raising awareness and advocating for better resources and support to help children with dyslexia in Jamaica.

KAREN MCFARLANE