Test 4 Dyslexia

WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?

Dyslexia is a “hidden” disability that often goes unrecognized or undiagnosed because many schools are not trained to identify it.  

Many myths surround dyslexia, including that a child reads backwards, or the lines become wavy and unstable while reading, or the child reverses letters so much it interferes with reading.  

In reality, dyslexia is a neurobiological dysfunction of the phonological processes in the brain.  The child hears the sounds, but often cannot remember what sounds go with what letters. Until proper instruction is provided, the child is literally fighting his own brain to learn to read fluently.

The International Dyslexia Association provides a useful definition accepted by many states.

“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”