Dyslexia
You can find a multitude of dyslexia definitions around the world, but the British Dyslexia Association defines it as,
A learning difference which primarily affects reading and writing skills. However, it does not only affect these skills. Dyslexia is actually about information processing. Dyslexic people may have difficulty processing and remembering information they see and hear, which can affect learning and the acquisition of literacy skills. Dyslexia can also impact on other areas such as organisational skills.
Symptoms
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which also includes Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, Dysgraphia and Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD or ADHD).
Symptoms usually associated with Dyslexia include but are not limited to:
- read and write very slowly
- confuse the order of letters in words
- put letters the wrong way around (such as writing "b" instead of "d")
- have poor or inconsistent spelling
- understand information when told verbally, but have difficulty with information that's written down
- find it hard to carry out a sequence of directions
- struggle with planning and organisation
But people with dyslexia often have strong skills in other areas, such as creative thinking and problem solving.
Who can help
A range of specialists can help students with dyslexia, including:
