Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). Also called a reading disability, dyslexia is a result of individual differences in areas of the brain that process language. Dyslexia is not due to problems with intelligence, hearing, or vision.

Most children with dyslexia can succeed in school with tutoring or a specialized education program. Emotional support also plays an important role.

Signs & Symptoms

Signs of dyslexia can be difficult to recognize before your child enters school, but some early clues may indicate a problem. Once your child reaches school age, your child's teacher may be the first to notice a problem. Severity varies, but the condition often becomes apparent as a child starts learning to read.

Diagnosis

There's no single test that can diagnose dyslexia. A number of factors are considered, such as Vision, hearing, and brain (neurological) tests, Questionnaires, Psychological evaluation, and Tests for reading and other academic skills.

Treatment

There's no known way to correct the underlying brain differences that cause dyslexia. However, early detection and evaluation to determine specific needs and appropriate treatment can improve success. In many cases, treatment can help children become competent readers.