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Dyslexia: From Challenge to Success 克服读写障碍：从挑战到成功

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Dyslexia is the world’s most prevalent learning disability, affecting an estimated 4-5 percent of people. Once undiagnosed and misunderstood, dyslexics often struggled through their studies, only to face grim employment prospects. These days, awareness among educators and parents has changed this picture significantly.

读写障碍是全世界最常见的学习障碍，估计约有百分之四到五的人受到影响。它曾经是无法诊断而且被人误解的毛病，读写障碍患者在求学的过程中往往会非常辛苦，最后还要面对不看好的就业前景。近来许多教育工作者及家长们的警觉，大大地改变了这样的景象。

Dyslexia involves problems in processing language-based information. It generally manifests itself as difficulties with word recognition and decoding. Dyslexics may also experience problems with spelling, handwriting, and reading comprehension. Like other learning disability, the causes of dyslexia are neurological and genetic. If an individual is diagnosed with dyslexia, chances are a relative is also dyslexic.

读写障碍涉及处理语言信息的问题，它显示的症状通常是对文字的辨识和解读上有困难；患者对于拼字、书写、和阅读理解上也会感到吃力。就像其它学习障碍一样，读写障碍是一种神经性的遗传疾病。如果一个人被诊断有读写障碍的话，那他的亲戚之中也有人可能是读写障碍患者。

Dyslexia is not a disease, so there’s technically no cure. But many strategies exist to help children and adults with dyslexia maximize their potential. Often these strategies focus on multisensory instruction. For example, a child who has difficulty recognizing printed words may have an easier time when those words are read out simultaneously.

读写障碍不是病，所以技术上来讲是无药可解的。然而现今有很多策略可以帮助有阅读障碍的孩童和成人们充分发挥他们的潜能。通常这些策略采用多重感官并用的教学法，例如，一个对书本上的文字辨识有困难的小孩，若让他在看到文字的同时也可以听到读音，就会容易多了。

With early diagnosis and intervention, the effects of dyslexia can be minimized. In fact, what dyslexics lack in written language skills is often compensated by better-than-average memory and oral abilities. Processing information differently may actually help dyslexics develop more flexible and creative thinking, providing them with an edge for future success.

如果早期发现并介入治疗的话，读写障碍对患者的影响便可降低。事实上，如果患者书写能力有所不足，则常常会有优于一般人的记忆力和口语能力。读写障碍患者用不同方式来处理信息，可能真的可以让他们发展出比别人更具弹性、更富创造力的思考，为他们提供一项未来成功的优势。

Vocabulary

单词发音

dyslexia [dɪsˋlɛksɪə] n. 识字困难；诵读困难

prevalent [ˋprɛvələnt] adj. 流行的，盛行的；普遍的

dyslexics [dɪsˋlɛksɪks] n. 读写障碍患者

grim [grɪm] adj. 无情的；严厉的；残忍的 cruel, severe, or ghastly

prospect [ˋprɑspɛkt] n.（成功的）可能性；前景，前途 something expected; a possibility

manifest [ˋmænə͵fɛst] v. 显示，表露 to show or demonstrate plainly; reveal

decode [ˋdiˋkod] v. 【术语】解读﹐ 解释 to analyze and understand the construction of words and phrases, esp in a foreign language

comprehension [͵kɑmprɪˋhɛnʃən] n. 理解；理解力

neurological [͵njʊrəˋlɑdʒɪkəl] adj. 神经性的；神经病学的 of or relating to the nervous system or neurology

multisensory [ˌmʌltɪˈsɛnsərɪ] adj. 多种感觉（并用）的

simultaneously [saɪməlˋtenɪəslɪ] adv. 同时地

intervention [͵ɪntɚˋvɛnʃən] n. 干涉﹐干预; 介入

Sentence of the Day

Teaching students with dyslexia is far from a lost cause; they can learn to read and write effectively.

教育读写障碍的学生不是不可能的任务，他们能有效地学习阅读和写字。

a lost cause 大势已去; 已失败的事业

课文讲解

Jerry and Sandy, colleagues at a software company, are going to lunch:  杰利和珊蒂是一家软件公司的同事，正要去吃午餐：

S: Congratulations on your technical writer position. That’s a step up from tech support!

恭喜你成为技术文件作家了，那可是优于技术支持哦。

J: Yeah, I guess so. Actually, the truth is this promotion is something of a personal victory. Reading and writing were pretty challenging for me in school.

是啊！我也是这么想。其实这次升迁算是我个人成就的证明吧！因为在我念书的时候阅读跟写作对我来说是相当大的挑战。

S: Really? But you really excelled in the support job, and you’re not lacking anything upstairs.

真的吗？可是你在支持部门的工作表现得很杰出啊，而且你的脑子什么都懂。

J: Right. I’ve always had an excellent memory, great people skills, and oral communication’s probably my strongest suit. But in school, reading and writing were a real challenge.

是没错，我的记忆力很好，也很会经营人际关系，沟通表达可能算是我的拿手绝活。但是我在学校时，对于阅读和写作实在感到很吃力。

S: That sounds exactly like my cousin, the engineer. He often feels like he’s working below his intellectual capacity.

听起来很像我那位工程师表弟，他常感觉没有完全发挥他的智慧潜能。

J: He should go to a qualified diagnostician. When I was young, I discovered I was dyslexics. For example, letter reversal were a serious issue for me, which made – say – “pig,” “big,” and “dig” hard to distinguish.

他应该要去给合格的医师诊断。当我还年轻时，我发现我有读写障碍。举例来说，字母调换对我可是一大难题，像我很不会分辨「pig」、「big」和「dig」这些字。

S: Obviously, you got the help you needed. But are there programs for dyslexic adults?

很显然地，你得到你所需要的帮助了，但有专为成年的读写障碍患者规划的课程吗？

J: Absolutely. It sounds like your cousin’s worked out some compensatory strategies, but more help’s available.

当然有喽！听起来你的表弟好像是有找到补救之道，但其实还有更多的协助可以用。

S: I read that dyslexics, despite a learning disability, are often spatially talented, intuitive, and entrepreneurial.

我读过读写障碍患者除了学习障碍外，常常空间感很好、直觉能力强，而且有企业经营能力。

J: Also, true. Hey, I’m feeling pretty good about myself! Lunch is on me today.

这倒是真的。嘿！我现在心情非常好，今天午餐我请客！

－by Darshan Tyler

Vocabulary

单词发音

upstairs 往更高的地位 to or at a higher level

strong suit  擅长的事物 a quality, activity, or skill in which a person excels

diagnostician [͵daɪəgnɑsˋtɪʃən] n. 诊断医生,诊断专家 a person who diagnoses, especially a physician specializing in medical diagnostics

work out 想出；制订出；产生出 to result in a good conclusion; to finish positively

compensatory [kəmˋpɛnsə͵torɪ] adj.  弥补性质的﹐补偿性质的 making up for a loss

spatially [ˋspeʃəlɪ] adv. 空间地；存在于空间地

intuitive [ɪnˋtjʊɪtɪv] adj. 有直觉力的 perceiving by intuition

entrepreneurial [͵ɑntrəprəˋnjʊrɪəl] adj. 具有企业精神的

Sentence of the Day

The saying “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” doesn’t not apply to adult dyslexics.

俗语说“老狗学不了新把戏”这句话不适合用在成人读写障碍患者身上。