Last Updated on October 6, 2023 by Editorial Team
REVIEWED BY NUMBERDYSLEXIA’S EXPERT PANEL ON JANUARY 29, 2022
Anyone can evolve their ability to infer words and combinations effectively to facilitate communication and problem-solving, which is otherwise known as Verbal intelligence. However, this expedition can be taxing for some individuals with personal compromises like Dyslexia.
People with dyslexia tend to have difficulties with fluent word recognition, reading comprehension, writing, and spelling. Research suggests that it affects at least 5-10% of the total population in general. Kids with such compromises can face challenges in distinguishing similar words like mat and cat, which may lead them to work hard in learning. Sometimes, they can have a hard time following a series of instructions too.
Consequently, in this post, we will explore the connection between Dyslexia and Verbal Intelligence, along with our handpicked reading programs that can aid these individuals towards boosted intellects.
Dyslexia & non-verbal intelligence: How are they associated?
Dyslexia, as we all know, is a condition in which the student may need to work more to master abilities like reading, writing, and comprehension. These may be unique in inferring the printed letters.
While we comprehend that these individuals have a unique pattern of processing the bigger picture than sheer details, this leads to a very interesting finding[1], which suggests that dyslexics possess comparatively higher non-verbal intelligence. This means that although students with such compromises have a limited word treasure, they do have healthy practical capabilities and thinking skills.
Comprehending the working of the brain in individuals with dyslexia
Each hemisphere of the brain consists of four lobes – the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe. Each of these lobes is accountable for language and speech manipulation, linking spoken and written language, letter identification, and verbal memory, respectively. Research by Elizabeth S. Norton[2] depicts the following insights:
- Structural gray matter differences in Dyslexics tend to colocalize with the regions that show functional differences in the cerebellum too. Since Cerebellum is often responsible for verbal fluency[3] in individuals, Dyslexics may need to get it rehabilitated.
- Special children who have been able to read have been found to be exhibiting reduced left-parietal and occipital-temporal activations. Warrington[4] from his research showed that left parietal lesions could affect verbal memory.
Rather than relying on their phonological awareness and decoding skills, students with dyslexia often perform better on visual (nonverbal) reasoning tests[5]. Verbal information tends to be more difficult for them to comprehend than visual information (diagrams, images, etc.). (including written language).
Verbal reasoning- Why dyslexics may get it taxing
Contrary to common beliefs, dyslexia has nothing to do with a child’s overall intelligence level[6]. However, it is seen that most of the students enduring such compromises often perform poorly in verbal reasoning.
Dyslexia is fundamentally a neuropsychological learning disorder wherein a child fails to develop the mental ability to read normally or faces trouble recognizing words and letters.
Verbal reasoning involves several components such as phonological awareness, reading fluency, vocabulary knowledge, decoding, word recognition, etc. As stated in the previous lines, the research by Elizabeth S. Norton depicts the parietal-temporal and occipital-temporal areas in people with dyslexia are both underactive. These two areas are mainly responsible for understanding concepts and recognizing word forms (verbal reasoning, in general).
Learning-compromised students often struggle with verbal reasoning[7] because of weak phonological awareness, poor decoding, and inaccurate reading of words. Since the information being processed by them is not accurate, their verbal reasoning comprehension is compromised.
Reading programs for dyslexic students to improve verbal reasoning skills
Certain strategies can prove to be immensely beneficial for compromised students to ameliorate personally in the long run. Following is a list of five reading programs that can help them to improve their verbal reasoning skills:
1. PAF program
The PAF program is a powerful reading program for teaching young students the artwork of reading. It uses kinesthetic methods that are backed by scientific data. This program is one of the well-liked alternatives based on the ‘Orton Gillingham approach’, which was specially devised to guide such students and enable them to read efficiently.
It basically lays out the road map for kids to develop their skills in a logical order. Students are taught how to make sounds of letters, how to use sounds to read and spell, how to use suffixes to build multisyllabic words, and how to read stories that only contain sound and decodable text. PAF offers explicit phonic lessons and integrated learning which is a boon for students with disabilities.
2. Wilson Reading System
Wilson Reading System is the primary program of Wilson Language Training. WRS is specifically designed for students in grades 2-12 and grown-ups who have a hard time with words. In short, anyone with a language-based learning dysfunction can get access to intensive and structured literacy instruction.
WRS aims to teach the students fluent decoding and encoding skills systematically. Students get training in word structure, word recognition, vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension, fluency, and proofreading skills. The fourth edition characterizes a few advancements with research-based best practices, including an expanded instructor manual and comprehensive guides.
3. Orton Gillingham Academy
Orton Gillingham Academy provides a knowledge base with their coursework and a hands-on experience of applying it. OGA essentially uses the Orton Gillingham approach to teach students but doesn’t follow a rigid scope.
Instead, it aims to provide flexibility and chooses to consider all areas of literacy and not just reading and spelling. This academy certifies individuals who meet their standards both as practitioners and educators.
4. Rave-O
Rave-O is a participation curriculum meant for children in grades 2-4. Its objective is to empower them to read text mindfully, build new sets of knowledge, and reach new levels of reading accomplishments. It provides a platform for students to improve their performance across literacy domains and promotes deep reading.
They also get to learn the power of words and get to visualize how these grow into meaningful sentences. Rave-O allows children to improve fluency beyond repeated reading and lets them use background knowledge and word meanings to understand new words quickly. This program allows students to understand and analyze text with the motivational, instructional approach.
5. Lindamood-Bell
Lindamood-Bell’s evidence-based programs are built to help students with reading and comprehension, including those with shortcomings like dyslexia, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorder. They believe that all children and adults can be taught to read, spell, and do math at their best potential.
Their instructions are in accordance with the needs of an individual learner. These programs are specialized in developing the cognitive and perceptive processes that lie beneath reading and comprehension. These do not include any traditional learning methods and help kids to explore the world of words.
Conclusion
While dyslexia is essentially a reading disability, it can also impact children’s overall growth. It can burden a child socially and lower his self-esteem. It is extremely important to help them rediscover that they are skilled and proficient.
Dyslexic brains tend to have a rather different kind of problem-solving framework. Some of them happen to be exceptionally good at spatial reasoning and putting together three-dimensional spatial perspectives, while others may be good at interconnected reasoning or storytelling.
Special students can grow into successful innovators, artists, engineers, and entrepreneurs when guided the right way. Such students should be encouraged to make use of their non-verbal intelligence and consider the sky as the limit.
References:
- Craggs, J. G., Sanchez, J., Kibby, M. Y., Gilger, J. W., & Hynd, G. W. (2005). Brain Morphology and Neuropsychological Profiles in A Family Displaying Dyslexia and Superior Nonverbal Intelligence. Cortex, 42(8), 1107-1118. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-9452(08)70222-3
- Norton, E. S., Beach, S. D., & E. Gabrieli, J. D. (2015). Neurobiology of Dyslexia. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2014.09.007
- Starowicz-Filip, A., Chrobak, A. A., Moskała, M., Krzyżewski, R. M., Kwinta, B., Kwiatkowski, S., Milczarek, O., Rajtar-Zembaty, A., & Przewoźnik, D. A. (2017). The role of the cerebellum in the regulation of language functions. Psychiatria Polska, 51(4), 661–671. https://doi.org/10.12740/pp/68547
- Warrington, E. K., Logue, V., & Pratt, R. (1971). The anatomical localisation of selective impairment of auditory verbal short-term memory. Neuropsychologia, 9(4), 377-387. https://doi.org/10.1016/0028-3932(71)90002-9
- What are the other merits of dyslexics regarding IQ? | ResearchGate. (2014, September 23). ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/post/What-are-the-other-merits-of-dyslexics-regarding-IQ
- NIH-funded study finds dyslexia not tied to IQ. (2015, September 18). National Institutes of Health (NIH). https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-funded-study-finds-dyslexia-not-tied-iq
- Bacon AM, Handley SJ. Dyslexia and reasoning: the importance of visual processes. Br J Psychol. 2010 Aug;101(Pt 3):433-52. doi: 10.1348/000712609X467314. Epub 2009 Jul 24. PMID: 19635180.
An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’,