Dyslexia: Basic Facts

What is Dyslexia?

• Language based learning disability,
• Neurobiological in origin,
• Difficulty with discriminating sounds within words,
• Difficulty with automatic letters, word recognition.

What Causes Dyslexia?

• Brain imagery studies have found brain of dyslexic develop and function in a different way.

What are the signs of Dyslexia?

• Difficulty learning to speak,
• Difficulty learning name and sound of letters,
• Difficulty learning to read and spell.

How Common is Dyslexia?

• 85% of population with reading difficulties,
• Occurs in people of all backgrounds and intellectual levels,
• Runs in families.

What are the effects of Dyslexia?

• Problems with reading, spelling and writing, leading to poor reading fluency and reading comprehension,
• Negative self-image, discouraged.

How is a Dyslexic learning style addressed?

• With proper help people with dyslexia can learn to read/write,
• Early identification and intervention is key,
• Need to be taught by method that involves several senses (hearing, seeing, touch),
• May need help with emotional issues that arise as a consequence of difficulties in school.