Dyslexia frequently asked questions

Dyslexia is a common, but often understand disability that impacts many people. Learn more about dyslexia and what challenges people experiencing it face.

Raising awareness of dyslexia is important. Additional knowledge helps sufferers understand how their brains function and informs other people about how they can assist them.

If you want to raise your awareness of dyslexia, the upcoming FAQ section is a great starting point.

Understanding dyslexia

Dyslexic people struggle to read fluently or correctly.

Dyslexia can impair many other skills (generally between kindergarten and third grade ages):

• Spelling
• Rapid naming
• Writing
• Reading comprehension
• Math
• Phonics and phonemic awareness
• Rhyming
• Phonological awareness

People sometimes associate dyslexia with vision problems. They believe that people with this learning disability write backward or perform letter reversals, but that’s rarely the case.

Dyslexia is solely a phonological, not a visual problem.

Furthermore, dyslexia isn’t caused by intelligence issues despite impacting learning. Dyslexia sufferers are just as smart as other individuals. In fact, people with reading difficulties, poor spelling, and other symptoms have thrived in many fields, including acting, politics, and business.

What challenge do people with dyslexia face?

The effects of dyslexia vary from person-to-person and depend on various factors, such as the severity of the condition and remediation efficacy.

One of the most well-known characteristics of dyslexia is that it causes reading problems. This issue is closely related to difficulty manipulating and processing sounds (phonological processing).

As a result, dyslexic individuals usually master spelling and reading tasks while they’re young, especially with high-quality reading instructions. However, they fall off later in life when they need to apply more complex skills, like grammar, writing essays, and understanding textbooks.

Dyslexic people can also have trouble speaking, despite being exposed to excellent models and good multisensory instructions in school. They may have a hard time expressing themselves clearly or comprehending others.

Recognizing these problems and addressing limited phonological awareness can be challenging. The condition is sometimes left untreated, causing significant issues in school and the workplace.

In addition, dyslexia can influence the self-image of a person. Individuals with this language-based condition often feel less capable and less intelligent. After experiencing stress due to job difficulties, they may feel discouraged about going back to their workplace.

What do people with dyslexia do to cope?

The diagnosis of dyslexia is complex, but once the condition has been established, doctors prescribe treatment to alleviate the problem:

• Improving reading skills and background knowledge through training based on the individual student’s needs
• Learning new ways to overcome and manage issues in the workplace with occupational therapy
• Requesting enhanced workplace assistance and related services
• Asking people to express instructions in spoken form rather than written form to avoid reading problems
• Finding methods for learning and remembering faster
• Training in uncomfortable tasks to address a specific learning disability

Technology is another important factor in treating dyslexia, especially for adults who don’t want to use a dyslexia handbook. For example, recording conversations and meetings allows sufferers to revisit the sessions to ensure they don’t miss important information. People also rely on apps and electronic organizers to minimize distractions.

However, text to speech platforms might be more effective. This software supports people struggling to digest or read text on computer screens. Having it read aloud in a natural-sounding voice helps sufferers proofread their written work.

Most importantly, text to speech apps enable dyslexic people to become more independent. They no longer need to rely on colleagues to hear words. Instead, they can use their platform to understand content at their own pace.

Emotional support is essential too. Dyslexic people are often frustrated because they lag behind their peers.

This is especially evident in school. As mentioned, individual students consider themselves inferior to their classmates. In turn, they may disguise their issues by acting up or trying to get their peers to do the work for them throughout the school year.

They may also pretend there’s no point in going to school, and that they’re not interested in meeting grade-level standards.

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) advises friends and family to help dyslexic individuals by acknowledging that they’re not lazy or stupid. They should recognize they’re doing their best and appreciate their strengths, be they art, problem-solving, sports, or drama.

What is the prevalence of dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a relatively common reading disability. It affects about 20% of the population and accounts for approximately 90% of all individuals with learning disabilities. It’s the most prevalent neuro-cognitive condition.

What are some signs that someone has dyslexia?
A dyslexic learner or employee may have difficulty learning and performing many actions. Consequently, they may show the following signs of dyslexia:  

• Trouble following instructions
• Telling right from left
• Following and learning rules or procedures sequentially (e.g., instead of applying math rules, they attempt to solve a problem in an unorthodox manner)
• Reading maps and following travel directions
• Telling time
• Word recognition
• Memorizing names, words, and phrases
• Remembering phone numbers and written lists
• Expressing ideas coherently
• Figuring out the first step of solving tasks

What do people with dyslexia do to cope?

Dyslexic people can access several resources to obtain additional information to help cope with their difficulties:

• Office of Special Education Programs and related services
• Individualized Education Programs (IEP) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Special education services and government (.gov) websites, including ninds.nih.gov
• IDA
• Decoding Dyslexia – MI
• Dyslexia Handbook (2018)
• Overcoming Dyslexia (2020) by Dr. Sally Shaywitz

Students with this learning disability can also consult their school district. For instance, many regions have high school reading interventions to help manage symptoms more effectively.

If you’re an adult, you should combine your coping mechanisms with text to speech platforms. This productivity-enhancing technology involves smartphones, tablets, computers, or other devices that read your text aloud.

The voice is generated by AI, allowing you to manipulate it in numerous ways. You can change the speed while alternating between male and female voices.

One of the best text to speech apps is Speechify. It’s not just perfect for those with dyslexia – it can also help you manage other reading challenges:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Dysgraphia
• Dyscalculia

You can listen to your content in your office or at home. All you need to do is enter the source material into the system, be it websites, emails, PDFs, or Google Docs.

If you want to learn more about this reading disability and how Speechify’s text to speech approach benefits dyslexic persons, please reach out to us today.