DYSLEXIA CHARACTERISTICS

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin (or brain-based). Research shows that it can be inherited and has identified some genes that may predispose individuals to dyslexia. Though symptoms can vary by age and between individuals, common challenges are:

• Unexpected difficulty with reading

• Weak sense of sounds in spoken language (such as difficulty with rhyming sat/cat/bat or segmenting sounds)

• Trouble sounding-out or decoding words

• Labored, slow, effortful reading

• Difficulty with spelling accuracy

• Secondary reading comprehension weaknesses

DYSLEXIA ASSESSMENT

When dyslexia is in question, it is helpful to look at the following:

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• Vocabulary (spoken language)

• Phonological awareness (an understanding or awareness of sounds in spoken language)

• Sound-to-symbol correspondence

• Decoding (the ability to pronounce or "sound out" words)

• Fluency (oral reading rate)

• Comprehension

• Handwriting or graphomotor skills

• Spelling accuracy in isolation and in context, as age-appropriate

DYSLEXIA INTERVENTION

With the right support, students with dyslexia can become better readers and writers. Effective instruction targets phonemic awareness, sound-symbol associations, syllable instruction (six syllable types), morphology, and reading fluency. Integrated support to address reading comprehension, spelling and handwriting is also recommended.

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*International Dyslexia Association: Dyslexia Basics