Children suspected of suffering from dyslexia undergo a series of reading, spelling, drawing, math and intelligence tests, as well as visual tests and other tests to examine which brain functions are interfering with their acquisition of normal school learning. If a child was tested then the psychologist, doctor or social worker can, and should have, referred the parents to a clinic where they provide skills for parents to deal with and care for the children who have difficulty in reading, writing and remembering.  Most of all, the school should be able to help in understanding and treating children’s learning difficulties.

It is very important that parents must understand that this particular child has a disorder that effects millions of people all over the world but with proper teaching skills these individuals learn and function in society.  They are not stupid, lazy, unmotivated, or rebellious but just have disability that affects his ability to :

·         Read,

·         Write,

·         Spell,

This frustrates the and when they are forced, they become angry. They may also have some problems in:

·         Putting things in order,

·         Following instructions,

·         And differentiating between left and right.

This will certainly frustrate them. Dyslexic children learn at their own level and pace, and in many cases, they excel in one or more other areas.  I believe that some of their experiences may include difficulties in concentration, perception, verbal skills, abstract reasoning, social adjustment, poor grades and underachievement.

However, they can succeed at the same level as other children if he receives extra support and attention from you and from school.

Here are few things that would be very helpful to parents, as they try to raise and educate a child with dyslexia both in Islam and at school :

  1. Parents have to encourage the child in a positive and constructive way and not to push or force him/her.
  2. Have patience when they fail to get a message or learn the words. They will, in sha’ Allah (if Allah wills), in time.
  3. Do not raise your voice, slap, or call them names.
  4. Let them draw and repeat the words they find difficult to read or remember.
  5. Be very positive, praise him/her every time he/she tries, even if he/she does not succeed the first time or the second time etc. He/she needs to know that their parents love him/her even when he/she makes mistakes.
  6. Most of all, set a time during the day when you can sit with him/her without being disturbed so that you are relaxed and ready to help and support him/her.

The prayer I have used with small children is very simple.  Ask him/her to repeat

La Illaha IlaAllah (there is no God but Allah),  as many time as he/she can and explain to them that this will help in calming him/her so that they can learn better, and ‘in sha’ Allah, they will.  This has a very calming effect on the child as well as on adults. Teaching religion should be easy, because in Islam one has to learn the words and experience them through practice such as salah (prayer) and du`aa’,