How Video Games Enhance Learning for Dyslexic Children

Remember the movie Taare Zameen Par? It beautifully highlighted the struggles and potential of dyslexic children. Let’s explore how video games can help them learn.

Written by Zareen, Edited by Sadat & Zarif

Photo credit: Helping Kids with Dyslexia – TEACH Magazine

This question focuses on a critical issue affecting millions of children worldwide in our education system. Dyslexia, a common yet often misunderstood learning disability, presents unique challenges that require specialized attention from teachers, parents, and schools.

Dyslexia is a learning disability that primarily impacts an individual’s ability to read, spell, and process language. It is characterized by difficulties with phonological awareness, verbal memory, and verbal processing speed. Approximately 1 in 10 people are affected by dyslexia, translating to around 780 million individuals globally. Despite its prevalence, research by NIH shows that many people with dyslexia go undiagnosed, particularly adults who may have struggled silently throughout their lives.

Dyslexic children face numerous challenges in both their academic and social lives. They often struggle with reading, spelling, and processing language, leading to lower academic scores and increased frustration. This can result in emotional instability and feelings of inferiority, particularly when their difficulties are not well understood by their peers, teachers, and even parents.

Socially, dyslexic children may feel isolated or stigmatized, further impacting their self-esteem and motivation. These challenges highlight the importance of a supportive and informed approach from everyone involved in their education and development.

The outlook of parents, teachers, and schools towards dyslexic children varies widely, often depending on their level of awareness and understanding of the condition. Many parents and educators may not fully recognize the specific needs of dyslexic students or may lack the training to provide effective support. According to the Learning Generation Report, up to 33 million children with disabilities in low and middle-income countries are out of school.

Additionally, according to the IIEP Learning Portal, children with disabilities are less likely to complete primary, secondary, and higher education compared to their non-disabled peers. In many countries, teachers lack the confidence and essential skills to provide inclusive education effectively. Training for inclusive education constitutes only a minor part of teachers’ overall training and is not consistently evaluated.

However, there is a growing recognition of the benefits of game-based learning as a tool to aid dyslexic children. Video games designed for educational purposes can offer a multisensory learning experience, immediate feedback, and an engaging platform. Unlike traditional teaching methods, which can be challenging and monotonous for dyslexic learners, video games offer an engaging, interactive, and enjoyable way to develop crucial skills.

According to this BBC Article, researchers discovered that individuals who played video games exhibited improved attention skills compared to their previous abilities. Game-based learning leverages children’s natural affinity for play, converting them into fun activities that promote effective learning. By embracing these innovative tools, parents and teachers can create a more inclusive learning environment for dyslexic students.

Photo credit: Word Collect

Research has highlighted several video games that have proven beneficial for dyslexic learners. For instance, the first image shows a screenshot of a “Word Collect” mobile game at Level 1. The game appears to be a word puzzle where players must form words by swiping letters. The top half of the screen has six brown squares, likely placeholders for letters or words. Below these squares, there is a message that says, “Welcome! Swipe the word ACT.” At the bottom, there are letters “A,” “C,” and “T” arranged in a triangular formation with an illustration of a hand swiping from letter A to C to T. The player is supposed to swipe their finger over these letters in sequence to form the word ‘ACT’ as instructed by the game, which encourages players to connect letters and find words. In the second image, at the top, it displays three empty boxes. Below, there’s a congratulatory message saying, “Fantastic! Now add the word CAT.” The letters “A,” “C,” and “T” are arranged in a circular formation, with an illustration of a hand pointing to the letters. The player is supposed to swipe their finger over these letters to form the word ‘CAT’ as instructed by the game. This engaging activity has the potential to help dyslexic children learn and form new words in a fun way, which also improves their reading skills. In the last image, players can tap the shuffle or hint button if stuck to form a word. As players progress, they sharpen their word skills by unscrambling letters and creating words. This process reinforces spelling and vocabulary. The colorful interface and letter tiles make the game visually engaging. Dyslexic learners may find this appealing and stay motivated to play.

Photo credit: GraphoGame Français

“GraphoGame” is an educational tool designed to improve phonological skills and has shown positive results in enhancing reading abilities in dyslexic children. It helps kids learn letters, rhymes, and their sounds through various engaging 3D levels with their unique player characters. The player gradually moves on from graphemes and phonemes through syllables and rhyme units to eventually learn how to blend what they have learned into complete words. As shown in the above image, when the player taps on the sunflower, the frog catches the bee with its tongue, and the game makes the sound ‘EU’ that teaches phonetics or pronunciation of letters.

Photo credit: Lightbot

“Lightbot” is a puzzle game that teaches programming logic by guiding a robot through various levels using commands. It helps develop problem-solving skills and logical reasoning.
To play this game, we use simple steps to control a robot, which can seem straightforward if the number of steps is unlimited. However, when the number of steps is limited, we must use creative symbols like functions and loops to complete the task. For example, in the image on the left side of the image, the robot needs us to light all the blue tiles. So, we take two steps forward and then use the bulb icon to complete the task. After that, we press play, and the blue tiles light up.

Photo credit: Lightbot

These games make learning enjoyable and help reduce the stigma and anxiety associated with traditional academic challenges.

Numerous studies have documented the positive impacts of game-based learning on dyslexic children. Research published in IJATCSE has shown that using a mobile game-based learning system significantly improves the reading performance of children with dyslexia.

“Entertainment Video Games for Academic Learning: A Systematic Review”– discusses how video games can support reading acquisition in dyslexic children. It highlights the effectiveness of multisensory games in improving phonological processing, cognitive functioning, and reading skills.

“Game-Based Learning for Learners With Disabilities—What Is Next? A Systematic Literature Review From the Activity Theory Perspective” – this research systematically analyzed the design, implementation, and outcomes of game-based learning for learners with disabilities using the Activity Theory (AT). It aimed to address learner-based and contextual factors and the roles of various stakeholders to provide comprehensive insights and recommendations for using game-based learning in special education.

Remarkable things can happen when game-based learning is utilized in the education system. One story that inspired me a lot was the story of a Cambridge Professor, Jason Arday, who was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) at a young age. He started speaking at the age of 11 and started reading and writing at the age of 18. And then, he received his PhD at the age of 30. He could achieve it with the help of some remarkable teachers and the game-based learning process. Repetition and fun are the keys to acquiring the skills he needs.

Thus, by integrating video games into the educational framework, we can offer dyslexic children a more engaging and supportive learning experience. These tools not only make learning fun but also cater to the unique needs of dyslexic learners, helping them to overcome their challenges and achieve their full potential. Increasing awareness about dyslexia and providing proper training and resources can make a significant difference. By understanding the challenges faced by dyslexic children and taking proactive steps to support them, we can create a more inclusive and effective educational environment that allows every child to thrive.

Written By

Zareen Hasna Chowdhury

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