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What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a condition or learning disability that causes difficulty with oral or written language. Problems may arise in reading, writing, spelling, speaking, and/or listening. The word “dyslexia” comes from the Greek words “dys” (poor) and “lexis” (words or lexicon). Dyslexia results from differences in the structure and function of the brain.
Individuals with dyslexia may display some of the following characteristics:
· Late in learning to talk
· Difficulty pronouncing words
· Difficulty acquiring vocabulary
· Difficulty learning the alphabet, nursery rhymes, or songs
· Difficulty learning to read
· Difficulty in learning the sounds of letters
· Poor reading comprehension
· Difficulty with hearing and manipulating sounds in words
· Many spelling mistakes
· Difficulty putting ideas on paper
· Difficulty in proofreading
What is not dyslexia?
It is not a sign of poor intelligence. Dyslexia is not limited to reversing the order of letters in reading or writing. Individuals with dyslexia might tend to misspell words, but it is not a problem of visual perception that involves reading the letters in words backwards or upside down as implied in popular culture. People with dyslexia do not “see backward.”
Who has
dyslexia?
People that have dyslexia are born with it. It has a genetic component and dyslexia can tend to occur in multiple members of the same family. Between 10-20% of the population can be diagnosed as suffering from various degrees of dyslexia. It occurs among all groups, regardless of age, race, or gender. Many famous and successful people were diagnosed as being dyslexic, or had symptoms of dyslexia or related learning problems.
Famous people diagnosed as dyslexic
What can be done about dyslexia?
Dyslexia is not a disease and there is no cure. However, there are special programs designed to develop successful reading, writing, and spelling skills for people that are dyslexic. Do you know someone that is dyslexic? Click on the partner page link “Dyslexia and You” to find out more on how to overcome dyslexia.