Dyslexia is thought to be the most common of all the learning difficulties. It is widely acknowledged that globally, as many as 1 in 5 individuals have varying levels of dyslexia. Dyslexia can be seen within a continuum from mild to severe and each individual will have different strengths and weaknesses.
Dyslexia is often referred to as a ‘hidden disability’ as sometimes the characteristics and symptoms are not obvious. Some young people can go all the way through school without dyslexia being identified. Early identification is important for effective intervention. Many parents take the route of obtaining a formal diagnosis for their child to help speed up the process of identification.
There are many organisations both nationally and internationally which support the understanding of dyslexia. Many of these provide additional training to teachers as well as supporting parents to help their child and offer guidance to individuals with dyslexia.
There is no formal definition of dyslexia but it is widely recognised that the difficulties associated with dyslexia relate to literacy – reading, writing and spelling. Individuals with dyslexia can also show other difficulties relating to memory, co-ordination and organisation. There is no relationship between a person’s level of intelligence, individual effort of socio-economic position and the presence of dyslexia.
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