top of page
Halftone Crowd

Dyslexia affects



of the population, making it the most commonly diagnosed learning disability and is one of the least understood disabilities

15-20%

What is Dyslexia?

​The International Dyslexia Association states that it is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.

IDA, 2004

​

AdobeStock_315113823.jpeg

Clues to Dyslexia

  • Rhyme insensitivity

  • Difficulty remembering letter names

  • Difficulty distinguishing sounds in words​​​

  • Trouble learning sound/letter correspondences

  • Transposing the order of letters/numbers

  • Difficulty learning to read whole words

  • Misreading common short words/substituting words 

  • Reliance upon context and visual cues when reading

  • Speaking delays

  • Word pronunciation errors

  • Difficulty following directions

  • Confusion with before/after, right/left 

  • Word retrieval difficulties

  • Difficulty with spelling 

  • Slow, labored handwriting

  • Difficulty putting ideas on paper​​

Dyslexia Myths

Smart people cannot be dyslexic

Reading skill and IQ are not connected. Dyslexia occurs across the IQ spectrum and many dyslexic people are highly bright, creative, and have made tremendous contributions to our world. 

Dyslexia is reading words backward

People with dyslexia do not see words backward. Letter reversal is a common part of reading development in young children. However, persistent difficulty with letter reversals in reading and writing beyond primary grades may be a flag for concern as it takes many more exposures for a dyslexic child to differentiate letters that are visually similar or represented as mirror images.

Kids with dyslexia just need to try harder

Often students with dyslexia are told they just need to read more, or try harder.  They may be labeled as “lazy” or unmotivated. Truth is that dyslexia requires specialized, explicit instruction to build automatic recognition and retrieval of letters and language structures. The idea that they will get there on their own, or they "just need more time" is not a solution, and typically delays vital intervention.

Dyslexia is uncommon

Epidemiologic data indicate that dyslexia is prevalent among 17.5%-21.5% of children and adults. Dyslexia affects all races and socioeconomic groups. (Connecticut Longitudinal Study of Learning) It also occurs among children with additional disorders, such as autism and down syndrome. 

Dyslexia can be cured

Dyslexia is neurobiological in origin, and is lifelong. Although dyslexics can learn to read with high accuracy, they may continue to read and write slowly, and benefit from accommodations to demonstrate their true abilities in school and on exams.

Iceberg Illusion (2).jpg

What many teachers, and even parents may not recognize is that children with dyslexia might appear to be doing "fine" in school, particularly in elementary grades, because they understand the content in class, and try hard to succeed.
What we might not see are the feelings of isolation and fear, anxiety, and the intensity it requires to keep up.

bottom of page