FAQ

The exact causes aren't clear, but differences in the way the brain of a person with dyslexia develops and functions have been observed on anatomical and brain imagery. Dyslexia tends to runs in families; parents with dyslexia are very likely to have children with dyslexia.

80% of students classified as having a learning disability have reading and language processing challenges under the heading of dyslexia. As many as 15-20% of the general population exhibit dyslexia symptoms of varying degrees. Dyslexia occurs in people of all backgrounds and intellectual levels. Often they are very intelligent and or gifted. Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso were dyslexic!

A neuropsychologist can provide a medical diagnosis of dyslexia. However an official diagnosis isn't necessary to begin an intervention. If you or someone in your family exerts an excessive amount of effort to read or write, they most-likely struggle with dyslexia to some degree. Another indicator may be if a student is below the "benchmark" or 40th percentile nationally in reading, but exhibits understanding and learning through verbal communication. Regardless of a formal diagnosis, immediate and individualized explicit reading instruction will prove beneficial. Federal policies known as Response to Intervention (RTI) encourage early intervention. Intellectual and academic achievement testing are included in a comprehensive evaluation, along with an assessment of the critical underlying language skills that are closely linked to dyslexia.

"The problems displayed by individuals with dyslexia involve difficulties in acquiring and using written language. It is a myth that individuals with dyslexia 'read backwards,' although spelling can look quite jumbled at times because students have trouble remembering letter symbols for sounds and forming memories for words. Other problems experienced by people with dyslexia include the following: Learning to speak Learning letters and their sounds Organizing written and spoken language Memorizing number facts Reading quickly enough to comprehend Persisting with and comprehending long reading assignments Spelling Learning a foreign language Correctly doing math operations Not all students who have difficulties with these skills have dyslexia. Formal testing of reading, language, and writing skills is the only way to confirm a diagnosis of suspected dyslexia."* *International Dyslexia Association, Dyslexia Basics

Dyslexia is a lifelong condition. The earlier it is identified and treated, the better equipped the learner is to achieve his/her goals in school and life. A teacher, tutor, or therapist trained in a structured language approach teaches the individual systematic and explicit methods of reading, writing, and spelling, using the senses of hearing, seeing, and touching. Many who are dyslexic need one-on-one help so that they may progress at their own pace.