About Dyslexia
Dyslexia causes difficulties in learning to read, write and spell. Short-term memory, mathematical ability, concentration, personal organisation and sequencing may also be affected. Dyslexia usually arises from a weakness in the processing of language-based information. Biological in origin, it tends to run in families, but environmental factors also contribute.
Dyslexia can occur at any level of intellectual ability. It is not the result of poor motivation, emotional disturbance, sensory impairment or lack of opportunities, but it may occur alongside any of these. The effects of dyslexia can be largely overcome by skilled specialist teaching and the use of compensatory strategies.
What are the "at risk" signs of dyslexia?
- Lack of phonological awareness - having difficulties sounding out words and mispronunciation of letter combinations
- Making unexpected errors when reading aloud, missing words out or reading the wrong word
- Taking ages to read something and understand it
- Having difficulties with spelling
- Having difficulties copying from the blackboard and/or taking notes
- Having difficulties with sequencing resulting in problems with, for example, learning times tables, days of the week or months of the year
- Poor short-term memory resulting in difficulties, for example, with remembering a series of numbers, such as a telephone number, or a list of instructions
- Confusing left and right
- Confusing names or objects or using Spoonerisms e.g. par cark
- Finding it difficult to learn songs/nursery rhymes
- Appearing to have misheard what has been asked
- Suffering with additional stress and low self-esteem
- Orally communicating very well but written work does not reflect apparent understanding
- If anyone else in the family, who is a blood relation, has similar difficulties
Source: Dyslexia Action
Some key statistics
- Dyslexia is the most common of the learning difficulties affecting one in ten children to some degree, an estimated 1.2 million children across the UK and an average of two to three children in every classroom.
- The Select Committee on Education and Skills report, April 2005, showed that almost 20% of 11 year olds were not reaching the standards expected of their age group which will be partly due to unrecognised learning difficulties.
- The Government has estimated that adults with poor literacy and numeracy skills could earn up to £50,000 less over their lifetime and are more likely to have health problems. In the Skills for Life Annual Review 2003/04 it is estimated that poor skills cost the country's economy £10 billion every year.
- The latest figures from the DfES show that 9,290 children are permanently excluded from school. 64% of these are identified as children with special needs and at least 80% of these will have dyslexia/SpLD. The cost of supporting children with dyslexia/SpLD who are excluded is over £50 million per annum (£9,900 per child per annum).
- Dyslexia Action estimates that it would cost £27 million to train one teacher in every primary school in the UK, improving recognition and support throughout. This is a fraction of the ongoing long-term economic costs to the nation of unrecognised dyslexia.
Source: Dyslexia Action
The facts
- Dyslexia is a brain based developmental disorder with consequences that persist from the pre-school years through to adulthood; it is a life-long condition.
- Brain imaging has shown differences between dyslexic and non-dyslexic individuals in specific areas of the language processing regions of the brain.
- Dyslexia is not related to intelligence - it can occur at any level of intellectual ability.
- Dyslexia is characterised by an inability to recognise the sounds that letter combinations make (phonological awareness) - the skill that underlies literacy development.
- Dyslexia is a dimensional disorder, which means that it can affect an individual mildly, moderately or severely. The number and type of difficulties also vary from one dyslexic person to another. Difficulties should be addressed at an individual level.
- Dyslexia occurs regardless of race, age and socio-economic status. However those who are more disadvantaged are likely to be most affected over their lives.
- Dyslexia is inherited - several genes have been identified as possible causative factors. If one parent is dyslexic there is a 50% chance that any of their children will be.
- Unrecognised dyslexia can result in the loss of self-esteem, and, in children, behavioural difficulties.
- Early intervention is critical. Children with the highest risk of dyslexia can be identified as early as five or six years of age.
- A full formal assessment with an educational or occupational psychologist or specially trained teacher will establish if an individual has a specific learning difficulty.
- The effects of dyslexia can be alleviated but dyslexia cannot be cured.
- Specialist, structured, multi-sensory teaching, designed to meet the needs of the individual, helps overcome the difficulties of dyslexia.
- Dyslexia can co-occur with other disabilities such as dyspraxia and attention deficit disorder.
Source: Dyslexia Action
Download Waterstone's Guide to Books for Young Dyslexic Readers
Please note - This guide will be updated shortly.
Prices quoted are RRP guidelines only.
