'Children with dyslexia just learn differently': Cork mum says son's early diagnosis crucial

An early dyslexia diagnosis helps children get essential learning support in school.

Dylan Gunn with mum Andrea at home in Garryvoe, Co Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

IN third class, Caoileann’s teacher said she should read more. The fourth class teacher told her mum some of Caoileann’s classmates had far worse literacy difficulties. Yet mother-of-three Catherine Sexton knew her eldest child had trouble with spelling.

“She’d get words all mixed up. She’d misread words and misunderstand them. Putting five words in a sentence would take her an hour. It took her ages to get through a bit of English homework — I’d be gritting my teeth.”