Dyslexia

What is dyslexia?

International Dyslexia Association's 2025 Definition of Dyslexia

"Dyslexia is a specific learning disability characterized by difficulties in word reading and/or spelling that involve accuracy, speed, or both and vary depending on the orthography. These difficulties occur along a continuum of severity and persist even with instruction that is effective for the individual’s peers. The causes of dyslexia are complex and involve combinations of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental influences that interact throughout development. Underlying difficulties with phonological and morphological processing are common but not universal, and early oral language weaknesses often foreshadow literacy challenges. Secondary consequences include reading comprehension problems and reduced reading and writing experience that can impede growth in language, knowledge, written expression, and overall academic achievement. Psychological well-being and employment opportunities also may be affected. Although identification and targeted instruction are important at any age, language and literacy support before and during the early years of education is particularly effective.”

Characteristics of dyslexia:

The following are the reading/spelling characteristics of dyslexia:

• Difficulty reading words in isolation;
• Difficulty accurately decoding unfamiliar words;
• Difficulty with oral reading (slow, inaccurate, or labored);
• Difficulty spelling.

The reading/spelling characteristics are most often associated with the following:

• Segmenting, blending, and manipulating sounds in words (phonemic awareness);
• Learning the names of letters and their associated sounds;
• Holding information about sounds and words in memory (phonological memory);
• Rapidly recalling the names of familiar objects, colors, or letters of the alphabet (rapid naming).

Consequences of dyslexia may include the following:

• Variable difficulty with aspects of reading comprehension;
• Variable difficulty with aspects of written language;
• Limited vocabulary growth due to reduced reading experiences.