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What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects the development of reading, spelling and writing skills. It is characterised by difficulties with accurate and fluent word recognition, poor spelling, and challenges in phonological processing (the ability to hear and manipulate the sounds within words).

According to the British Dyslexia Association and the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC), these difficulties are unexpected in relation to a person’s age and other abilities, and they persist despite access to effective teaching. Dyslexia occurs across the full range of intellectual abilities and is not linked to low intelligence or lack of effort.

Individuals with dyslexia may also experience difficulties with short-term memory, processing speed, sequencing, and organisation. However, they often demonstrate strengths in problem-solving, creativity, and visual or spatial reasoning.

Dyslexia exists on a continuum — from mild to more severe — and can affect each person differently. With early identification and the right support, individuals with dyslexia can develop successful strategies to manage their learning and achieve their full potential.

New Delphi Dyslexia Definition

Dyslexia is a set of processing difficulties that affect the acquisition of reading and spelling.

In dyslexia, some or all aspects of literacy attainment are weak in relation to age, standard teaching and instruction, and level of other attainments.

Across languages and age groups, difficulties in reading fluency and spelling are a key marker of dyslexia.

Dyslexic difficulties exist on a continuum and can be experienced to various degrees of severity.

The nature and developmental trajectory of dyslexia depend on multiple genetic and environmental influences.

Dyslexia can affect the acquisition of other skills, such as mathematics, reading comprehension, or learning another language.

The most commonly observed cognitive impairment in dyslexia is a difficulty in phonological processing (i.e. in phonological awareness, phonological processing speed or phonological memory). However, phonological difficulties do not fully explain the variability that is observed.

Working memory, processing speed, and orthographic skills can contribute to the impact of dyslexia.

Dyslexia frequently co-occurs with one or more other developmental difficulties, including developmental language disorder, dyscalculia, ADHD, and developmental coordination disorder.

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