What is dyslexia?

As defined in Texas Education Code §38.003 (1) “Dyslexia” means a disorder of constitutional origin manifested by a difficulty in learning to read, write, or spell, despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence, and sociocultural opportunity. (2) “Related disorders” includes disorders similar to or related to dyslexia such as developmental auditory imperceptions, dysphasia, specific developmental dyslexia, developmental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability.

As defined by the IDA Board of Directors:  “Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It 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.” Adopted by the IDA Board of Directors, Nov. 12, 2002.

Characteristics of dyslexia:

The following are the reading/spelling characteristics of dyslexia:

• Difficulty reading words in isolation;
• Difficulty accurately decoding unfamiliar words;
• Difficulty with oral reading (slow, inaccurate, or labored);
• Difficulty spelling.

The reading/spelling characteristics are most often associated with the following:

• Segmenting, blending, and manipulating sounds in words (phonemic awareness);
• Learning the names of letters and their associated sounds;
• Holding information about sounds and words in memory (phonological memory);
• Rapidly recalling the names of familiar objects, colors, or letters of the alphabet (rapid naming).

Consequences of dyslexia may include the following:

• Variable difficulty with aspects of reading comprehension;
• Variable difficulty with aspects of written language;
• Limited vocabulary growth due to reduced reading experiences.

For more information:

• Visit the International Dyslexia Association for answers to Frequently Asked Questions

• View/download the Texas Education Agency's Dyslexia Handbook (available in Spanish soon).

Just a few celebrities & other important figures with dyslexia:

(Source: The International Dyslexia Association)