Dyslexia

Statistics

UK [1]

Somewhere between four and five percent of the population are dyslexic. It is estimated that there are about 375,000 pupils in the UK with dyslexia and a total of some two million people who are severely affected

What is it?

The word 'dyslexia' comes from the Greek and means 'difficulty with words'. It is a difference in the brain area that deals with language. It affects the under-lying skills that are needed for learning to read, write and spell. Dyslexia occurs in people from all backgrounds and of all abilities.

Symptoms

Dyslexia is a puzzling mix of both difficulties and strengths. It varies in degree and from person to person.

Possible difficulties:

Reading hesitantly
Misreading, making understanding difficult
Difficulty with sequences, e.g. getting dates in order
Poor organisation or time management
Difficulty organising thoughts clearly
Erratic spelling

Possible strengths:

Innovative thinkers
Excellent trouble-shooters
Intuitive problem solving
Creative in many different ways
Lateral thinkers

Another term for dyslexia is specific learning difficulty. Dyslexia is one of several specific learning difficulties. It means that the difficulties are specific rather than more general learning difficulties.

Further information

Acknowledgements: This section has been developed with the help of the British Dyslexia Association.

[1] Dyslexia Actions (n.d.) Frequently asked questions. [accessed 01/02/08].