Difficulty with short words is a very common problem for students with dyslexia. Learn about this issue, as well as our online dyslexia tutoring program, at http://www.dyslexiaconnect.com .

Difficulty with short words is a very prominent symptom of dyslexia, and it can also be an exasperating one for parents. A dyslexic student may be reading a paragraph smoothly and suddenly grind to a halt when they see a word like "for". What is the cause of this issue?

There are many mysteries about the dyslexic mind that brain scientists are still trying to solve. One of these is the issue with short words. At this point, we do not know what causes a student with dyslexia to have such trouble with short words, but we do know that it is a primary symptom of dyslexia. If your child struggles in this way, it is important to keep in mind that this is a normal symptom of dyslexia, and that it is not simply a matter of the student being lazy. Also, difficulty with short words should not be taken as an indicator that the student is regressing or losing ground with their reading, because even dyslexic students who have become advanced readers struggle with short words from time to time.

So, how should you handle this issue with your dyslexic child? One of the best things that you can do is to give them patience and support. If your dyslexic child stumbles on a small word, or simply freezes when they approach it, remind them to use the decoding knowledge that they are gaining in dyslexia tutoring or dyslexia treatment. For example, if they stumble on the word "for", ask them to tell you what "f" says. After they tell you that, ask them what "or" says. They can then put the sounds together and say the word. This may seem extremely basic, but by continually reminding them to apply the skills that they are gaining in dyslexia tutoring or treatment, you are helping them to develop good habits that will pave the way for more progress.

Peter Groth
CEO
Dyslexia Connect Online Tutoring
http://www.dyslexiaconnect.com