Dyslexia is a popular term used to describe disorders of language processing that fall under the general category of learning disorders. Like all learning disordered persons, Dyslexics show specific deficits in particular performance areas (in this case, making sense out of written and spoken speech elements), but otherwise test out at normal intelligence or better. Dyslexics commonly report seeing numbers and letters and hearing speech sounds differently than ‘normal' persons. The symbols used to represent language may be reversed, juxtaposed, received out of order or otherwise distorted. For example, ‘P' and ‘b” may be difficult to discriminate from one another. Dyslexics also may report that they hear spoken language oddly, with speech sound reversals and distortions.
It is not definitively known what causes dyslexia to occur. There is strong evidence to suggest a genetic/biological component is present in at least some cases. Reading disorders tend to run in families, and to be most commonly present in males (between 60% and 80% of Reading Disorder cases are male).
Although Dyslexia cannot be cured, treatment/intervention in the form of language teaching that is sensitive to the special needs of dyslexic students can be of enormous benefit. Generally the earlier such intervention is made, the better off the dyslexic student will be in terms of being able to comprehend written and spoken language.
