Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a developmental learning disability that causes a difficulty in reading. As it does cause difficulty in reading, those impacted do not let it stand in the way of their success.
Definition
Dyslexia is a learning disability that impacts approximately 1 in every 10 people. Despite normal intelligence and education, it is marked by an unexpected difficulty in reading. It is the most common neurobehavioral disorder in children, affecting 5-17.5%. It is defined by being a phonologic deficit-- which leads to difficulty processing sounds of speech.[2]
The presence of dyslexia in children is known as "developmental dyslexia" as it is a lifelong issue and develops overtime. It manifests in children and is present through the difficulty of spelling simple words, a reluctance to read aloud, confusing letters with similar shapes, and mixing up the position of sounds in a word.[3]
Specific Disorders
According to my.clevelandclinic.org, "Dyslexia falls under the umbrella of 'specific learning disorder."[4] The three main subtypes are reading, writing, and math. Reading, also known as dyslexia, impacts the way people speak and comprehend visual aspects like words and numbers.
Signs and Symptoms
In children, dyslexia can appear as:
- Difficulty spelling simple words
- Issues telling apart similarly shaped numbers and letters such as "d" and "b"
- Trouble pronouncing words
There are different levels of severity.
- Dyslexia can be mild. This means that the difficulties are there but can be accommodated and supported.
- Moderate dyslexia means that the difficulties are significant and that specialized instruction is needed.
- Severe dyslexia looks like an individual needing specialized interventions, accommodations, and other treatments.
Causes
Dyslexia is highly heritable. If a parent has dyslexia, the child has a 30% to 50% chance of inheriting it. Other causes include differences in brain develop
ment and function as well as infections and toxic exposure as a fetus.
Accessibility
The publishing industry has made books and more accessible to people with dyslexia. For example, Scorpius Books and Bloomsbury Publishing produce dyslexic-friendly books for both kids and adults.[6]
- ↑ Dyslexia Image. Medindia, accessed 25 Nov. 2025, https://www.medindia.net/images/common/patientinfo/950_400/dyslexia.jpg.
- ↑ ProQuest. “Dyslexia.” Scholarly Journals, ProQuest, accessed 25 Nov. 2025, https://www.proquest.com/docview/223961167.
- ↑ Robinson, Solveig C. The Book in Society. Broadview Press, 2014.
- ↑ Cleveland Clinic. “Dyslexia.” Cleveland Clinic, 2025, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6005-dyslexia.
- ↑ Bloomsbury Publishing. Bloomsbury Announces Its First Adult Dyslexia-Friendly Books. Bloomsbury, 2024, https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/connect/latest-news/bloomsbury-announces-its-first-adult-dyslexia-friendly-books/.
- ↑ NationalWorld. “The Publishing Industry Has Failed Dyslexic Readers—Here’s How We’re Changing It.” NationalWorld, 2023, https://www.nationalworld.com/arts-and-culture/books/the-publishing-industry-has-failed-dyslexic-readers-heres-how-were-changing-it-5216092.
