Dyslexia CT - What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia, also known as developmental reading disorder (or DRD) is a reading disability that causes individuals to have trouble properly processing and understanding words and symbols. This, in turn, affects their ability to read, as well as to understand what they are reading.

Contrary to popular belief, dyslexia is not a vision problem, and does not have anything to do with an individual's intelligence. It is also more complicated than just transposing letters or reading backwards – those preconceptions that come to mind when people initially think of a reading disorder. Dyslexia can involve misunderstanding the meaning of a word or sentence, an inability to rhyme words, and difficulty recognizing words as a whole. The condition can have a negative impact one's ability to write and deal with math and problem solving.

Along with the above symptoms, it is also important to know that dyslexia can be a genetic disorder, oftentimes running in families. A thorough breakdown of family history is beneficial in properly diagnosing such a malady.

In order to identify dyslexia, some extensive testing must be done to distinguish it from other learning disabilities, diseases, and retardation. A health care provider will first ask questions about the patient’s performance in school, personal development, and social interactions, as well as finding out more about personal family history. A neurological exam may be done, and a complete medical physical in order to rule out other possible causes of the problem.

Individuals who have been diagnosed with dyslexia can overcome it with individual tutoring, special education classes, and extra assistance in learning and schooling. If dyslexia is not addressed at a young age, it can cause result in continued problems throughout life, including poor school and work performance, as well as low self-esteem and possible behavioral problems. Dealing with the disorder early allows the best prognosis for a happy, healthy life.

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