Struggling to read: The rhythms and sounds of dyslexia
HGSE Professor Jenny Thomson

In the early school grades, children encounter the very important challenge of learning to read. However, some children have major difficulties learning basic reading skills. In this audio interview, HGSE Assistant Professor Jenny Thomson clarifies our current understanding of the difficulties associated with dyslexia. She shares insights about how new research approaches are helping to clarify signs of dyslexia at different ages, and ways to support students’ learning of the rhythms and sounds of words.

"Struggling to read " – A Q&A with Jenny Thomson

Q1. Is it true that readers with dyslexia see letters backwards? Isn’t that the main problem children with dyslexia face?

"It’s certainly true that in the first descriptions of dyslexia, visual problems were commonly emphasized as the main problem. But since an explosion of research... "
<hear more> (requires RealPlayer) <text>

Q2. What are some of the early signs that a child may encounter problems with reading?

"At the moment it is difficult to predict with certainty which children will go on to have persisting reading problems...."
<hear more> (requires RealPlayer) <text>

Q3. Is there a different approach that you think would help us better understand reading difficulties?

"I think one of the reasons we’re not yet very good at predicting dyslexia, is because our studies are not developmental... "
<hear more> (requires RealPlayer) <text>

Q4. Are we at the point yet where we can look into dyslexia at the brain level?

"Brain-level research has lots of exciting possibilities for extending our understanding of dyslexia..."
<hear more> (requires RealPlayer) <text>

Q5. What are some ideas that teachers can use right away, to help kids with reading?

"One practical implication of this research is that early years teachers should really keep emphasizing skills such as syllable clapping and linking language and music..."
<hear more> (requires RealPlayer) <text>

Interview conducted by Maria Fusaro, doctoral student in Human Development and Psychology at HGSE