It’s hard to imagine what it’s like for children who have dyslexia. Not only do they have difficulty reading, but also focusing on things can be an uphill battle. Dyslexics often feel overwhelmed by the simplest tasks, so it is no wonder that paying sustained attention in school is difficult.

Focus and paying attention are different.

Attention is a natural function of the body since we are constantly heeding different things in the environment around us.

Focus, on the other hand, requires sustaining that attention on something for an extended time while tuning out other objects or elements around.

Thus, focus is more complicated than most people realize.

Telling a child with dyslexia to “just focus” can be equated to asking someone who is nearsighted to “just see farther.”

It. Doesn’t. Make. Sense.

Here are three reasons why your dyslexic child might be struggling with focusing:

1. Since they process information so slowly it takes them longer than most other children to do tasks that require paying attention or focusing on something for long periods of time.
2. Reading is so demanding for them, it makes them mentally exhausted, thus limiting their ability to sustain their attention.
3. Knowing the difficulties they experience, and having other children snicker or laugh at them creates anxiety, which gets in the way of directing and maintaining focus on the activity that is challenging.

How Can You Help Them?

1. Make sure they are actively listening to you… that they are alert.
   • Ask them to repeat what you say.
   • Follow up and make sure they remember it.
   • If possible, give a visual representation of the task and engage as many senses as possible.
2. Reduce distractions.
   • Carefully design the environment where they work.
   • Ensure they get enough sleep and rest, daily.
3. When they get distracted, point it out to them… help them choose what to pay attention to.
   • Most of the time, they are not aware that their attention wandered.
4. Conceptualize new information.
   • Relate new topics and ideas to something they already know.
5. Use Subheadings and learning tools.
   • Categorize information and present it in an understandable format for the child’s age.
   • Use things like reading strips, etc.

Most children, by the age of six, can shift their attention so they follow instructions and routines. By then, they can also attend to things they may be less than interested in, like schoolwork.

Parents of some children who are older than six say things like,

• My child doesn’t listen.
• Suzy is always daydreaming.
• Johnny zones out when it’s time to do his homework.

What you’re really saying is that your child is having trouble focusing.

Try the strategies above, be consistent, and watch them improve.

What other types of support can you give a child who has trouble focusing?