Dyslexia in Children and Adults

Struggling to achieve in a school system driven by words can be extremely frustrating for someone with dyslexia. You have many amazing ideas and thoughts but are judged according to how well you read and write. At The Key Clinic, we have the tools to remove barriers to learning and success, so you can access all that incredible potential you have locked inside.

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a language-based learning difficulty characterised by difficulties with word decoding, or the ability to understand how a word’s appearance relates to what it sounds like. 

Dyslexia causes difficulty reading, spelling, processing language and speaking. 

It tends to run in families and has absolutely nothing to do with intelligence!

Unfortunately, we live in a system where we are judged by our linguistic ability, It is an unfair competition for those with dyslexia, who are often very smart, but struggle with language. The biggest symptom is, therefore, a loss of confidence, as a result of heroic efforts often being met by academic underachievement. 

The dyslexic brain can also have many strengths. For example, the ability to see ‘the big picture’, to be intuitive, creative and to think of alternative ways around a problem. Many of the greatest thinkers and successes in history have been dyslexic. 

So, how can we tap into these strengths, while making life easier for those with dyslexia?

Phonological processing deficits cause the language and reading struggles experienced by dyslexics. They may also experience resulting eye-tracking problems:

  • Eye movement patterns during reading can reflect the difficulties people with dyslexia have with phonological processing and word decoding. (A Jothi Prabha: Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine Volume 195, October 2020)

  • People with dyslexia have a different and more difficult way of sampling visual information than normal readers. (Léon Franzen, Zoey Stark, Aaron P. Johnson.Scientific Reports, 2021)

Indicators of dyslexia

Some early, pre-school indicators of potential dyslexia include:

  • Delayed speech and language development

  • Pronunciation difficulties

  • Frequently needing things repeated

  • Missing or delayed developmental milestones eg crawling

  • Traumatic and/or C-section birth

  • Difficulties remembering names of colours and letters

  • Glue ear or repeated ear infections/grommets/congestion

  • A family history of dyslexia

Signs of dyslexia in children

    • Reading/phonics  difficulties

      • Difficulty learning phonics and spelling

      • Slow reading/dislike of reading

      • Below the expected level for their age (although you cannot diagnose dyslexia by attainment level, as children may learn to compensate, by working extra hard)

      • May skip a line when they try to read or find the words that seem to move on a page. (sing a ruler or finger under the words can help)

    • Poor concentration

    • Loss of confidence (this increases over time, as effort does not match performance and they cannot demonstrate the intelligence they have locked inside)

    • ‘Playing up’ in class or acting like ‘the class clown’ (again, a way of deflecting away from their areas of difficulty

    • Dislike of school

    • Restricted vocabulary

    • Difficulty with:

      • Following instructions, finding it hard to take in what is being said

      • Finding the right word or forming answers to questions, often forgetting words

      • Seeing similarities and differences in letters and words. 

      • Spelling

      • Recall of information

Signs of dyslexia in adults

    • Confuse similar words

    • Erratic spelling

    • Difficulty skim/speed reading

    • Read and write slowly

    • Difficulty taking notes or copying

    • Need to re-read paragraphs to understand them

    • Feel overloaded mentally and switch off

    • Difficulty organising thoughts onto paper

    • Confusion when given several instructions at once

Dyslexia support and therapies

There are many ways to make life easier for a child with dyslexia. For example, structured phonics-based teaching (such as Orton-Gillingham) from a dyslexia specialist can be helpful, and we recommend discussing this with your child’s school.

In addition, technology may help compensate for underlying areas of difficulty (eg text-to-speech software or audiobooks)

The Key Clinic’s complementary and unique approach is to address underlying neurodevelopmental barriers to learning that may be holding your child back.

1) Tuning up Listening

BrightBeatz™, our breakthrough, digitalized Auditory Integration Training, uses ‘modulated’ music to stimulate the ears and encourage more balanced hearing.

The programme takes place over 10 days (two 30-minute sessions a day, at home),

Improvements may be seen during and immediately after the course.

2) Integrating retained primitive reflexes:

Retained primitive reflexes may also interfere with eye-tracking, making reading difficult.

- McPhillips, M., & Jordan-Black, J. A. (2007). Primary reflex persistence in children with reading difficulties (dyslexia)

Integrating these reflexes may lead to improvements in reading and maths skills

- McPhillips, M., & Jordan-Black, J. A.(2005) Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs

The NeuroMature programme aims to integrate retained primitive reflexes by using slow, controlled neurodevelopmental exercises with your child over a few months.

Once the reflexes have been integrated, improvements seen typically last, and the exercise programme does not need to be repeated. Stimulating listening:

Do I need to have an official diagnosis to receive support from The Key Clinic?

No, because The Key Clinic aims to investigate underlying contributing factors to difficulties, in order to make life easier. You do not need a diagnosis to participate in one of our therapies.

Neurodevelopmental Movement - NeuroMature

The NeuroMature programme gives the body a second chance to develop, overcome underlying barriers to learning.  We use individually tailored neurodevelopmental exercises to inhibit retained primitive reflexes, which can help improve eye tracking, balance, coordination, self-confidence and emotional resilience.

We have different programme options available, which can range in time from one month to 6 months. Results typically last and programmes do not need to be repeated.

Mother of an 8-year-old boy who completed NeuroMature programme in June 24:

“It has been so rewarding to see the improvements in Dylan's academic performance and overall behaviour. He has engaged in the programme from the start, and the commitment and perseverance he's shown will benefit him in the future. The Key Clinic has been brilliant. Professional, empathetic, caring and incredibly accommodating. Thank you!!

Tips for parents - Persevere. Very time-consuming, but worth it.”

Please click here to register your interest or give us a call on 020 7486 4462.

Auditory Integration Training - BrightBeatz

A clear link has been shown between dyslexia and phonological processing. 

When thinking about speech and language difficulties, we don’t often think about our ears and yet research has shown that how we hear can affect how we learn, speak, function and behave in many important ways.

Dr Guy Berard, a pioneering French ENT doctor observed that distortions in the hearing profile can mean that not all parts of language are heard at the same volume (which can be similar to trying to listen to someone speak on a mobile phone in an area with poor reception.)

Dr Barard also identified ‘dyslateral hearing patterns’, which may make processing language more difficult.

Dr Berard developed AIT Auditory Integration Training to encourage the ears to listen in a more balanced way.

BrightBeatz, The Key Clinic’s breakthrough Auditory Integration Training (AIT) was developed with Professor Joshua Reiss, a leading professor of Audiology at Queen Mary University, London, to encourage better listening.

Best of all, this programme can be completed at home and only takes 10 days, with 2 x 30-minute listening sessions per day.

Some parents report seeing improvements continuing to build 6-12 months following the programme as the child becomes better able to listen.

Please click here to register your interest or give us a call on 020 7486 4462.

The Key Clinic can help individuals with dyslexia to thrive

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At The Key Clinic, we don’t believe in compensating forever, when things don’t come easily.

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We assess and target underlying neurodevelopmental factors that may be contributing to symptoms, removing the barriers holding you back.

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The dyslexic brain has many strengths. We want to empower you to harness the power of that difference.

Please call us on 020 7486 4462 or email welcome@thekeyclinic.co.uk to find out how we can support you or your child.