Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a brain-based learning disability that impairs a person’s ability to read and spell. People with dyslexia have trouble matching the letters they see on the page with the sounds these letters make. As a result, they struggle to read fluently and spell words correctly. These difficulties have no connection to overall intelligence.

(Yale Center on Dyslexia)

Dyslexia can be challenging to identify, particularly in early learners. People with dyslexia have difficulty articulating the sound of letters in a word. It is a phonological problem in which the individual cannot make the connections between the symbols and sounds that make up a word and the understanding and manipulation of those sounds.

A common misconception is that dyslexia is a visually based disorder, in which case someone might “mix up” the letters in a word while they are reading. In fact, dyslexia is a language-based disorder unrelated to vision. Often there is a family history of dyslexia, which may or may not have been diagnosed.

While dyslexia is a lifelong challenge, early intervention by grades 2 or 3 with evidence-based instruction and support can profoundly impact treatment outcomes. Perhaps most importantly, the student must understand that they can learn with instruction that will help their brain make necessary connections that enable them to read.