Dyslexia causes difficulty in learning to read, write and spell. Short term memory, mathematics, concentration, personal organisation and sequencing may also be affected. 10% of the British population are dyslexic, 4% severely so.
Dyslexia usually arises from a weakness in the processing of language-based information. Biological in origin, it tends to run in families, but environmental factors also contribute.
Dyslexia can occur at any level of intellectual ability. It is not the result of poor motivation, emotional disturbance, sensory impairment or lack of opportunities, but it may occur alongside any of these. Dyslexia often co-occurs with related conditions such as dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Attention Deficit Disorder.
The effect of dyslexia can be largely overcome by specialist teaching and the use of compensatory strategies.
Dyslexic people often have strong visual, creative and problem solving skills.