What is Dyslexia?

"Specific learning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia" (IDEA, 2018).

Dyslexia is a subcategory of Specific Learning Disability, and "is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge” (IDA, 2018).

Characteristics of Dyslexia

Social

Difficulty sustaining attention
May suffer from low self-esteem because of disability

Physical

May have poor fine motor skills
May have mild gross motor skills dysfunctions
Is often ambidextrous

Good spacial awareness
Able to see the big picture
Excellent visual memory
Enhanced peripheral vision
Good problem solvers
Very creative

Strengths

Affective

Can be either very organized or very disorganized
May be quiet or disruptive
May become frustrated or withdrawn if having difficulty reading or writing

Academic

Has difficulty hearing different phonemes
Poor reading comprehension without help
May have difficulty writing legibly with a pen or pencil
Switches letter order when reading and writing
May have difficulty with counting, arithmetic and telling time
May have a slow processing speed for reading, writing, and naming words

Cognitive

Impaired ability to decode language, spell, and conduct phonological processing

Levels of Severity

Dyslexia ranges from mild to severe
There are 4 types of dyslexia:
- Phonological Dyslexia
  - Difficulty breaking down language into sounds
  - Difficulty matching language sounds to written symbols
- Surface Dyslexia
  - Difficulty remembering words
  - Difficulty visualizing words
- Rapid Naming Deficit
  - Difficulty saying words or numbers quickly
- Surface Dyslexia
  - Difficulty with identifying words, and naming speed

Incidence

It is estimated that

Educational

Implications

Students with dyslexia are educated in mainstream classrooms
Teachers should be aware of what type of dyslexia their student(s) have, and structure differentiated instruction accordingly
Allow for extra time for testing, written, and reading assignments
Plan group work in a way that encourages inclusion
Allow students with dyslexia to present verbally in a virtual or private setting if they are too embarrassed to do so in front of the class

Student Questions

Grades K-4:

Can I show you the picture I drew?
Do the books have pictures?
Will everybody know I have trouble reading?

Grades 5-8:

When can I move up to a higher reading group?
Do I have to read out loud in front of the class?
Who do I talk to if I feel bullied?

Grades 9-12:

Will someone be reading tests to me?
Can I have text-to-speech for all of my notes?
Will I get extra time for tests?

Parent Questions

Who do I talk to about getting an Individualized Education Plan for my child?
Are there dyslexia programs available through school?
How will my child be supported in reading and writing?
Will my child have extra time for written assignments?
Will my child have extra time for reading assignments?
Can my child have texting accommodations?
their peers?

Teacher Questions

Where do I get additional training for working with students with dyslexia?
What assistive technology do I have available to help me differentiate instruction for students with dyslexia?
How can I support all levels of literacy proficiency in my classroom?
What administrative and additional support do I have to help me support my students with dyslexia?
How can I model tolerance and inclusion in my classroom?