‘When they heard the script of Taare Zameen Par, they were like, ‘ek second…”: Junaid Khan opens up about dyslexia diagnosis; benefits of early intervention

Junaid shared that his parents’ awareness of his struggles grew significantly when they heard the script of Taare Zameen Par, a film that highlights the challenges of children with learning difficulties. “When they heard the script of Taare Zameen Par, they were like, ‘Ek second… We have seen this in our lives’. And actually, it was at that point that they took me to a specialist, and I was diagnosed with dyslexia,” he said. 

He continued, “It was very early. I must have been six or seven years old. And I received a lot of help very early on, so it didn’t affect me as much growing up, but… So, in that sense, I think I was lucky.” 

Early signs of dyslexia 

Neha Cadabam, senior child psychologist at Cadabams Child Development Centre, tells indianexpress.com, “Dyslexia primarily affects reading and language processing abilities. Early diagnosis is critical, as intervention at the right time can significantly improve outcomes.” 

Here are some key signs to look out for, according to Cadabam:

Preschool Age (3-5 years)

-Difficulty recognising letters, matching letters to sounds, or learning the alphabet.

-Challenges in remembering nursery rhymes or sequences, such as days of the week.

-Delayed speech or mispronunciation of words (e.g., saying “pisghetti” instead of “spaghetti”).

-Struggles with learning new words or rhyming.

Early School Years (6-8 years)

-Difficulty reading simple words, sounding out letters, or blending sounds to form words.

-Frequent reversals of letters (e.g., confusing ‘b’ and ‘d’) or numbers.

-Slow reading speed or frequent skipping of words.

-Challenges in spelling, even simple words.

Benefits of early intervention 

Early intervention plays a crucial role in supporting dyslexic children, reducing academic challenges, and promoting emotional well-being, says Cadabam. Structured approaches, like the Orton-Gillingham method, help children decode and understand text through phonics, repetition, and interactive learning, boosting their confidence in reading. “Timely support also helps build emotional resilience, preventing frustration and low self-esteem that can lead to anxiety or depression. Additionally, neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt, and early interventions can enhance language processing in the brain’s left hemisphere, improving long-term learning outcomes,” notes the expert. 

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