Frankfort Speech Pathologist Seeks to Dispel Dyslexia Myths

Certified and Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist Renee Matlock will lead a presentation entitled at 7 p.m. on Monday at the Frankfort Public Library.

Matlock’s presentation is scheduled in conjunction with Dyslexia Awareness Month. She hopes to inform the Frankfort community about the disability, which she frequently encounters in her work.

“I want parents to realize how important reading is,” said Matlock, who is the owner and Executive Director of Speech Plus, a speech-language and learning clinic in Frankfort. “By reading with your child from infancy on, you’re developing the brain wiring that sets the child up for success in their school years.”

Matlock said she wants to dispel myths surrounding dyslexia, including the notion that children will outgrow dyslexia, that writing backwards is the only symptom of dyslexia, that children who struggle with reading are unintelligent and that dyslexic children are lazy.

According to the International Dyslexia Association, dyslexia is a language-based neurological learning disability. Dyslexia affects one in ten individuals, many of whom are never diagnosed. People with dyslexia are typically of average or above average intelligence and encounter difficulty with reading, writing and spelling.

In addition to Monday’s presentation, Speech Plus is hosting a book drive throughout the duration of October. New and gently used books for preschool-to-middle-school-aged children can be dropped off at Speech Plus, at 10071 W. Lincoln Hwy.

All book donors will be entered in a raffle to win prizes that promote reading, including a Kindle eReader.

Donations will go to Fairmont Elementary and Middle School, a high needs school in Lockport.

“We’re always looking to put print material in front of students,” said Fairmont principal Julie Grohn.

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