dys·lex·i·a- [dis-lek-see-uh] noun

Any of various reading disorders associated with impairment of the ability to interpret spatial relationships or to integrate auditory and visual information.

 

​Individuals with dyslexia have normal intelligence, and many have above-average intelligence. Dyslexia is a specific information processing problem that is not connected with the ability to think or to understand complex ideas.

 

Despite their intelligence and motivation, people with dyslexia find reading, writing and spelling difficult.

 

Dyslexia runs in families, but can be mild in one person and severe in another even in the same family. The number one risk factor is known or suspected dyslexia in the family tree. There is a 50% chance that a child will have dyslexia if one of his or her parents has it.

 

Dyslexia is NOT a rare disorder! 20% of the population is dyslexic. In a typical classroom of 30 students, 5 or 6 will have dyslexia. Although people with dyslexia struggle with reading, writing and spelling, they often excel in science, sports, music, or art. They frequently have excellent people skills.

 

The structure of the brain is physically different and people with dyslexia process language in different areas of the brain than people without dyslexia.

 

People with dyslexia display highly predictable reading mistakes. Dyslexia is NOT something you outgrow and by late third grade, children with dyslexia have a great deal of difficulty masking their weaknesses.