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Dyslexia affects 20% of the general population, which is one in five people.

 

Dyslexia is a neurologically based, often familial, disorder which interferes with the acquisition and processing of language. Varying in degrees of severity, it is manifested by difficulties in receptive and expressive language, including phonological processing, in reading, writing, spelling, handwriting, and sometimes in arithmetic.

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Dyslexia is not the result of lack of motivation, sensory impairment, inadequate instructional or environmental opportunities, or other limiting conditions, but may occur together with these conditions.

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Although being dyslexic is lifelong, individuals with dyslexia frequently respond successfully to timely and appropriate intervention.

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What is Dyslexia?

What are Dyslexics good at?

What are the Warning Signs of Dyslexia?

 

If a child/youth/adult has 3 or more of the following warning signs &​ has difficulty reading and spelling.

In Preschool

  • delayed speech                                                

  • mixing up the sounds and syllables in long words 

  • chronic ear infections                         

  • severe reactions to childhood illnesses 

  • constant confusion of left versus right

  • late establishing a dominant hand        

  • trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet          

  • difficulty learning to tie shoes             

  • can’t create words that rhyme

  • a close relative with dyslexia

In High School

All of the previous symptoms plus:

  • limited vocabulary 

  • extremely poor written expression

  • large discrepancy between verbal skills and written compositions

  • unable to master a foreign language 

  • difficulty reading printed music 

  • poor grades in many classes 

  • may drop out of high school

In Elementary School    

  • dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read)

  •  letter or number reversals continuing past the end of first grade 

  • extreme difficulty learning cursive                 

  • slow, choppy, inaccurate reading:                   

    • guesses based on shape or context 

    • skips or misreads prepositions (at, to, of)     

    • ignores suffixes

  • can’t sound out unknown words                     

  • terrible spelling

  • often can’t remember sight words (they, were, does) or homonyms (their, they’re, and there)

  • difficulty telling time with a clock with hands

  • trouble with math

    • memorizing multiplication tables

    • memorizing sequencing of steps

    • directionality

  • when speaking, difficulty finding the correct word lots of “whatyamacallits” and “thingies”

  • common sayings come out slightly twisted

  • extremely messy bedroom, backpack, and desk

  • dreads going to school

    • complains of stomach aches or headaches

    • may have nightmares about school

In Adults 

Education history similar to above, plus:

  • slow reader

  • may have to read a page 2 or 3 times to understand it

  • terrible spellers

  • difficulty putting thoughts onto paper

  • dreads writing memos or letters

  • still has difficulty with right versus left 

  • often gets lost, even in a familiar city

  • sometimes confuses b and d, especially when tired or sick

Sources:

Bright Solutions for Dyslexia

International Dyslexia Association

How to Support Individuals with Dyslexia?

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What is Dyslexia - Presented By Cheryl Hoffmann at the University of Manitoba

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