The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to dyslexia:

Dyslexia, previously known as word blindness, is a learning disability that affects either reading or writing. Different people are affected to different degrees. Problems may include difficulties in spelling words, reading quickly, writing words, "sounding out" words in the head, pronouncing words when reading aloud and understanding what one reads. Often these difficulties are first noticed at school. The difficulties are involuntary, and people with this disorder have a normal desire to learn. People with dyslexia have higher rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental language disorders, and difficulties with numbers.


Dyslexia is believed to be caused by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Some cases run in families. Dyslexia that develops due to a traumatic brain injury, stroke, or dementia is sometimes called "acquired dyslexia" or alexia. The underlying mechanisms of dyslexia result from differences within the brain's language processing. Dyslexia is diagnosed through a series of tests of memory, vision, spelling, and reading skills. Dyslexia is separate from reading difficulties caused by hearing or vision problems or by insufficient teaching or opportunity to learn.

Description of dyslexia

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Dyslexia can be described as the following:

  • Learning disability - A neurological condition that affects reading, writing, and spelling skills.

Types of dyslexia

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  • Surface dyslexia - Difficulty with whole-word recognition and irregular word spelling.
  • Deep dyslexia - Semantic errors in reading, often substituting related words.
  • Acquired dyslexia (alexia) - Reading difficulties resulting from brain injury.

History of dyslexia

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Causes and theories of dyslexia

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Symptoms, and diagnosing dyslexia

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Treatment of dyslexia

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Dyslexia research

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Research in dyslexia - Current scientific investigations and findings.

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Dyslexia organizations

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  • Decoding Dyslexia - A grassroots movement advocating for improved awareness and educational support for students with dyslexia in the U.S. and beyond.
  • Dyslexia Action - Provides support, assessment, and training services for individuals with dyslexia in the UK.
  • International Dyslexia Association - A non-profit organization focused on research, education, and advocacy for dyslexia worldwide.
  • Learning Ally - nation-wide non-profit volunteer organization in the U.S. that produces and maintains a library of educational accessible audiobooks for people with learning-related disabilities.
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  • Annals of Dyslexia - A peer-reviewed academic journal published by the International Dyslexia Association.
  • Dyslexia (journal) - A quarterly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering research on dyslexia and other learning difficulties.
  • Journal of Learning Disabilities - A peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes research on learning disabilities, including dyslexia.
  • Reading and Writing - An interdisciplinary journal that publishes research on literacy, including studies on dyslexia.

Persons influential in dyslexia

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  • Samuel Torrey Orton - American neuropsychiatrist who pioneered the study of learning disabilities and developed the Orton-Gillingham approach for reading instruction.
  • Anna Gillingham - American educator who collaborated with Orton to create the Orton-Gillingham approach, a multisensory technique for teaching reading to individuals with dyslexia.
  • Margaret Byrd Rawson - American educator who further developed the Orton-Gillingham approach and founded the Orton Dyslexia Society (now the International Dyslexia Association).
  • Diana Hanbury King - British-American educator who founded several schools, including The Kildonan School, for dyslexic students and developed teaching methods for dyslexia.
  • Sally Shaywitz - American neuroscientist known for her research on dyslexia and advocacy for evidence-based interventions.
  • Maryanne Wolf - American cognitive neuroscientist and author who has made significant contributions to the understanding of the reading brain and dyslexia.

Notable people with dyslexia

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See also

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Further reading

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  • Agnew, Susie; Stewart, Jackie; Redgrave, Steve (2014). Dyslexia and Us: A collection of personal stories. Edinburgh: Luath Press Limited. ISBN 978-1-908373-51-8.
  • Beaton, Alan (2004). Dyslexia, Reading and the Brain: A Sourcebook of Psychological and Biological Research. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-1-84169-363-3.
  • Brunswick, Nicola (2012). Supporting Dyslexic Adults in Higher Education and the Workplace. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-97479-7.
  • Capellini, Simone Aparecida (2007). Neuropsycholinguistic Perspectives on Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities. Nova Publishers. ISBN 978-1-60021-537-7.
  • Elliott, Julian G.; Grigorenko, Elena L. (2014). The Dyslexia Debate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-13587-0.
  • Ellis, Andrew W. (2014). Reading, Writing and Dyslexia: A Cognitive Analysis. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-1-317-71630-3.
  • Hulme, Charles; Joshi, R. Malatesha; Snowling, Margaret J. (2012). Reading and Spelling: Development and Disorders. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-49807-7.
  • Peer, Lindsay; Reid, Gavin (2013). Introduction to Dyslexia. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-37290-3.
  • Phillips, Sylvia; Kelly, Kathleen; Symes, Liz (2013). Assessment of Learners with Dyslexic-Type Difficulties. SAGE. ISBN 978-1-4462-8704-0.
  • Rosen, Glenn D. (ed.) (2013). The Dyslexic Brain: New Pathways in Neuroscience Discovery. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-1-134-95146-7.

References

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  • International Dyslexia Association (IDA) - A leading organization providing resources, research, and advocacy for individuals with dyslexia.
  • Dyslexia Help University of Michigan - Offers comprehensive resources for parents, educators, and individuals with dyslexia, including strategies and tools for support.
  • Lexercise - An online platform that offers personalized tutoring and resources for children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities.
  • The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity - Focuses on research and education regarding dyslexia, offering resources for families and educators.
  • The Dyslexic Advantage - A nonprofit organization that promotes the strengths and advantages of dyslexia, providing resources and community support.
  • Dyslexia Training Institute - Provides training and resources for educators and professionals to help them support students with dyslexia.
  • Reading Rockets - Offers strategies, lesson plans, and resources to help children learn to read, with a focus on those with dyslexia.
  • LD Online - A comprehensive resource for learning disabilities, including dyslexia, offering articles, guides, and support.
  • Learning Ally - Provides audiobooks and resources for students with learning disabilities, focusing on improving reading skills.
  • Bookshare - A free online library offering accessible books for individuals with print disabilities, including dyslexia.
  • Headstrong Nation - A community organization that supports children with dyslexia through advocacy, education, and resources for families.
  • CAST: Center for Applied Special Technology - Focuses on universal design for learning, providing resources and tools to support diverse learners, including those with dyslexia.
  • All Kinds of Minds - A nonprofit organization that provides resources and training for educators to support diverse learners, including those with dyslexia.