Dyslexia

1. Definition
a. Dyslexia is primarily associated with trouble reading. Some doctors,
specialists and educators may refer to it as a reading disorder or a
reading disability. But it can also affect writing, spelling and even
speaking.
2. Causes

Researchers have yet to pinpoint what causes dyslexia. But they do know that genes
and brain differences might influence a childs chances of having dyslexia. Here are
some of the possible causes of dyslexia:

Genes and heredity: Dyslexia often runs in families. So if your child has
dyslexia, theres a chance you or another relative may have it too. About 40 percent of
siblings of children with dyslexia may have the same reading issues.[4] As many as 49
percent of parents of kids with dyslexia may have it too.[5] Scientists have also found
several genes associated with reading and language processing issues.

Brain anatomy: Having dyslexia doesnt mean your child isnt bright. In fact,
many people with dyslexia have above-average intelligence. But their brain may look
different from the brain of people who dont have dyslexia. Consider, for example, the
planum temporale. This area of the brain plays a role in understanding language. Its
typically larger in the dominant hemisphere (the left side of the brain for right-handed
people) than in the right hemisphere. But if your child has dyslexia, the planum
temporale is probably about the same size on both the left and right sides of the brain.

Brain activity: To be able to read, our brains have to translate the symbols we
see on the page into sounds. Then those sounds have to be combined into meaningful
words. Typically the areas of our brains responsible for language skills work in a
predictable way. But if your child has dyslexia, those areas dont work together in the
same way. Kids with reading issues end up using different areas of the brain to
compensate.

As researchers zero in on what causes dyslexia, theyre also learning how the brain can
change. This concept is known as neuroplasticity. Studies show brain activity in people
with dyslexia changes after they receive proper tutoring.

What does this mean for your child? With the right help, your child can make real and
lasting improvements in reading ability. Knowledge of how the brain rewires itself may
also lead to even more effective help for dyslexia in the future.

3. Types
4. Characteristic
5. Symptoms
a. Because dyslexia affects some people more severely than others,
your childs symptoms may look different from those in another
child. Some kids with dyslexia have trouble with reading and
spelling. Others may struggle to write or to tell left from right.
b.
c. Some children dont seem to struggle with early reading and
writing. But later on, they have trouble with complex language
skills, such as grammar, reading comprehension and more in-depth
writing.
d.
e. Dyslexia can also make it difficult for people to express themselves
clearly. It can be hard for them to structure their thoughts during
conversation. They may have trouble finding the right words to say.
f.
g. Others struggle to understand what theyre hearing. This is
especially true when someone uses nonliteral language such as
jokes and sarcasm.
h.
i. The signs you see may also look different at various ages. Some of
the warning signs for dyslexia, such as a speech delay, appear
before a child reaches kindergarten. More often, though, dyslexia is
identified in grade school. As schoolwork gets more demanding,
trouble processing language becomes more apparent.
j.
k. Many children have one or two of these issues on occasion. But kids
with dyslexia have several of these issues, and they dont go away.