Introduction
Definition
Charateristics
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Introduction

The word 'dyslexia' is in common use. Like many medical and scientific terms it is derived from the Greek. The prefix 'dys' means 'difficulty' or 'malfunction'. And the root word 'lexis' means 'language'. The literal translation is 'difficulty with words. 'It implies that the problem is not simply with reading, but includes spelling, writing and other aspects of language

Definition

The British Dyslexia Association Definition of Dyslexia (1996) Dyslexia is a complex neurological condition which is constitutional in origin. The symptoms may affect many areas of learning function, and may be described as a specific difficulty in reading, spelling and written language. One or more of these areas may be affected. Numeracy, notational skills (music), motor function and organizationial skills may also be involved. However, it is particularly related to mastering written language, although oral language may be affected to some degree

Source: Crisfield J. (ed) (1996) The Dyslexia Handbook. BDA, Reading

The Characteristics of Dyslexia

• Congenital - people are born with it
• Genetic - inherited and runs in families, more males than females
• Constitutional - there is a neurological basis
• Problems with phonological awareness - tasks involving analysis or manipulation of individual sounds in words
• Problems with processing language - such as verbal naming or word retrieval or pronunciation
• Problems with short term memory - which particularly affect auditory sequential memory (such as the repetition of digits) or visual sequential memory (such as used in coding skills).

It would be unusual for an individual to have all these difficulties. Usually there will be a cluster of symptoms. The prognosis depends on individual strengths and weaknesses, on the individual leaning strategies, on the degree of the dyslexia, on when the diagnosis was made and an appropriate tuition.

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