What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a neurological difference with educational implications. It usually runs in families and is a life-long condition. It is a hidden disability thought to affect around 10% of the population, 4% severely.

Dyslexia is the most common of the Specific Learning Difficulties, a family of related conditions with considerable overlap or co-occurrence. Together these are believed to affect around 15% of people to a lesser or greater extent. Contrary to popular misconception, Dyslexia is not only about literacy, although weaknesses in literacy are often the most visible sign. Dyslexia affects the way information is processed, stored and retrieved, with problems of memory, speed of processing, time perception, organisation and sequencing.  

Dyslexia is likely to co-occur with other Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), including Dyspraxia/Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD), Dyscalculia, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Specific Language Impairment (SLI) – see below for links and further information about co-occurring difficulties.

For a number of different definitions of dyslexia, visit the BDA website, Dyslexia UK, Nessy and Wikipedia.