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Dyslexia


Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty which affects between 5% and 10% of the UK population.

It causes difficulties with reading, writing and spelling, and is usually diagnosed in children when they start school.

Dyslexia is a lifelong condition, but unlike a learning disability, it doesn’t affect the ability to understand and learn new information.

Signs of dyslexia

The signs of dyslexia are different in every person, but they may include:

  • reading and writing very slowly
  • poor spelling and /or handwriting
  • writing letters in the wrong order, or the wrong way around
  • difficulty understanding written information
  • difficulty planning and organising tasks

Dyslexia often occurs together with conditions like dyspraxia and dyscalculia.

Support and further information

If you are concerned that your child may have dyslexia, first talk to their school teacher.

You may also visit your GP to check for any underlying health issues that might be affecting their learning.

If your child doesn’t benefit from extra support at school, you can request a specialist assessment. This will be carried out by an educational psychologist or dyslexia specialist.

Links

There are lots of local support groups for people with dyslexia, but these are a good place to start:

NHS Choices: Dyslexia
More detailed facts about the symptoms, diagnosis and management of dyslexia

British Dyslexia Association
Comprehensive information, guidance and support for people with dyslexia, their parents, employers and teachers.

Government guidance on children with special educational needs
Read more about your rights and potential courses of action if your child has a special educational need or disability.