Is Dyslexia Genetic?
Is dyslexia hereditary and passed on genetically? Experts regard dyslexia as a neurological difference that is genetic in origin, meaning that individuals with dyslexia often have members of their immediate or extended family who also have dyslexia. Dyslexia affects how the brain deals with language and it can cause reading and spelling difficulties.
It is common for a child with dyslexia to have an immediate family member who also has dyslexia. Additionally, it is fairly common for multiple children in the same family to have dyslexia.
Family Members and Relatives with Dyslexia
In the past, much less was known about dyslexia, and it typically was not diagnosed or recognized. As a result, it can be challenging to determine whether an older relative has dyslexia. However, there are sometimes circumstances that indicate a relative may have it. For example, the relative may have dropped out of school, or insist that they hated school. They may avoid reading or mention that they dislike it. If a relative is clearly intelligent, but struggled in school, it may also be an indicator of dyslexia.
Without the right type of instruction, school can be very frustrating and demoralizing for a child with dyslexia, and a child with dyslexia who is a poor reader may also be a poor reader as an adult. Fortunately, with the right type of instruction utilizing the Orton-Gillingham Method, or one of the methods in the Orton-Gillingham family, children and adults with dyslexia can learn to read and spell proficiently.
Will a Parent With Dyslexia Have a Child With Dyslexia?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a child who has one parent with dyslexia has a 30% to 50% chance of having dyslexia. Research into the genetics of dyslexia continues, and at present, the exact way that genetics lead to dyslexia is not fully understood. With further research, we may have a better understanding of how genes cause dyslexia in the future.
The Genes That Cause Dyslexia
People sometimes think about genetics in the sense of one gene being passed on to a child from a parent, and if the gene is associated with a certain condition, then both the parent and the child would have that condition. However, with dyslexia, there are multiple genes with differences.
Experts believe that these genes may affect processes that form connections in the brain. In people with dyslexia, researchers have found that these processes are organized in a different way, and they believe that this affects reading and spelling.
Answers and Treatment
If you are searching for answers to why you or your child have difficulty with reading, considering similar struggles that other family members have can provide clues. You also have the option of seeking out an informal dyslexia evaluation, or formal dyslexia evaluation that can provide an official diagnosis. In terms of treatment, a diagnosis of dyslexia is not necessary, and the methods that are effective for teaching individuals with dyslexia to read and spell are highly effective for any reader. Instruction using the Orton-Gillingham Method can help a child or adult with reading difficulties learn to read proficiently, whether they have dyslexia or not.
