HealthyLife Articles

Tag: reading

  • Understanding Dyslexia

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Boy spelling DYSLEXIA with wood blocks.

    Dyslexia is a learning disability that impacts the ability to read. While the condition can be frustrating, people with dyslexia have more resources available than ever before. With proper support, they can build the skills needed to adapt and learn.

    Causes

    Dyslexia is neurobiological, meaning it is caused by how the brain is “wired.” Many people with dyslexia are born with a brain that has difficulty interpreting written information. However, dyslexia can develop as a result of a brain injury or dementia.

    Dyslexia isn’t related to a person’s intelligence. People of all intellectual abilities may be affected by dyslexia. Just because someone has difficulty processing written information doesn’t mean they don’t understand the concepts.

    Genetics may play a role in the development of dyslexia. While the exact cause of the condition is unknown, research is ongoing to further clarify its origin and treatment.

    Signs

    While no single test can diagnose dyslexia, a doctor will look at a range of signs and symptoms. Information from family history, medical history, reading evaluations, psychological testing, and other factors provide the basis for a diagnosis.

    Here are some common signs of dyslexia:

    *  Reading or writing slowly

    *  Writing letters in the wrong order

    *  Difficulty telling similar letters or words apart

    *  Problems spelling

    *  Difficulty planning and organizing

    *  Avoidance of activities that involve reading

    *  Problems remembering sequences

    Support

    Early identification of dyslexia is vital, especially for young children. With the right support, most individuals can be successful in school and at work. Effective treatment involves providing a supportive environment and individualized instruction to teach techniques that make reading easier. These include:

    *  Helping a child use multiple senses to identify written words

    *  Tutoring sessions with a reading specialist

    *  A school Individual Education Program (IEP) that guarantees learning support

    *  Reading aloud to children and having them practice reading aloud

    *  Utilizing technology to aid reading and writing

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Use Food Labels

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 3

    Smiling woman shopping in supermarket and reading food label.

    Information on food labels can help you choose healthy foods and drinks and avoid less healthy options. Some of the healthiest foods, like fruits and vegetables, don’t have a label at all! Practice reading food labels with the foods you have at home or the next time you grocery shop.

    Chart breaking down how to read a food label.

    What seems “normal” as a portion is influenced by what you have eaten in the past, what you see others eat, what you have been served at a restaurant, and what is on a food label. Part of adopting a balanced diet may be creating a new “normal” for yourself that is pleasing, filling, AND the right amount for your body.

    Chart breaking down how to read a food label.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Books And Bedtime Routine

    WELL-BEING

    Image of a mom reading a book to her young toddler.

    Whatever happened to the good old-fashioned bedtime story? Not an iPad app or a TV show before bed. But a real story, read in bed to a child by a parent.

    Seems that bedtime routines help kids sleep better, say researchers at Penn State in this NIH-funded study. They say well-established rules such as a regular bedtime and no caffeine drinks led to children getting adequate sleep for their age. In contrast, when parents and kids had electronic devices in the bedroom after bedtime, lack of sleep was more likely.

    Poor sleep could lead to behavioral problems, impaired learning and school performance, sports injuries, mood issues, and health problems such as obesity.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine