Dyslexia

What Is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects your ability to read, write and spell accurately. It happens when your brain has trouble understanding written words.

If you have dyslexia, you might:

• Confuse directions, like left and right
• Feel more challenged by word-based math problems
• Find learning another language difficult
• Have trouble remembering order (like what letter comes after K in the alphabet)
• Mix up letters (like reading bat as tab)
• Read slowly
• Spell words the way they sound (like “sed” instead of “said”)
• Understand spoken words easily but struggle with written ones

Most people get a diagnosis as children, but adults can have dyslexia, too. It’s a lifelong condition.

Dyslexia is fairly common. It affects roughly 1 in 14 people around the world.

This neurodevelopmental condition (a difference in how your brain grows and works) doesn’t affect how smart you are. It simply means your brain processes language in a different way.

Types of dyslexia

Healthcare providers classify dyslexia based on its cause. There are two main types:

• Developmental dyslexia: You’re born with it. It’s inherited (passed down through biological families).
• Acquired dyslexia: It develops later in life after an illness or injury that affects your brain.

Developmental dyslexia is more common than the acquired type.

Providers may also group this condition by how it affects reading skills, like:

• Phonological dyslexia: Trouble sounding out or breaking down new words
• Surface dyslexia: Trouble recognizing whole words, especially ones that aren’t spelled the way they sound
• Mixed (double deficit) dyslexia: A combination of both types of reading difficulties

Dyslexia signs and symptoms

Signs of dyslexia can look different at each age. That’s because your brain grows and learns in new ways as you get older.

In preschoolers (ages 3 to 5), you might notice your child:

• Has difficulty learning or recognizing letters
• Has trouble rhyming words (can’t find words that sound alike)
• Mixes up words that sound similar (like saying “cat” instead of “cap”)

In kindergarteners and first graders (ages 5 to 7), your child might:

• Find it difficult to read simple words after learning letter sounds
• Have trouble remembering letters, even after lots of practice
• Spell words in different ways or incorrectly

In children ages 7 to 13, you might notice your child:

• Avoiding tasks that have to do with reading
• Feeling sick or anxious before school or homework time (may have stomachaches or headaches)
• Struggling in school

In teens and adults, common signs include:

• Feeling embarrassed or anxious about reading in front of others
• Having difficulty spelling or writing clearly
• Reading slowly or needing to reread text several times to understand it
• Relying on memory, context or listening instead of reading written information

Having one or more of these signs doesn’t always mean you have dyslexia. But if reading or learning is especially hard, a dyslexia screening test can show whether you need extra support.

What causes dyslexia?

Dyslexia happens when the parts of your brain that handle language grow or work a little differently. These areas help you recognize sounds, match them to letters and understand words.

Causes could include:

• Differences in brain development before birth
• Brain injury or conditions that affect your brain, like stroke, head trauma or dementia

Is dyslexia genetic?

Yes, dyslexia often runs in families. Researchers found several genes that affect brain development and language skills. These genes can make it harder for your brain to recognize sounds and connect them to written words.

But dyslexia isn’t caused by just one gene, and not everyone with a family history will have it. Sometimes, this condition happens even when no one else in your family has it.

You may be more at risk of this condition if you:

• Have a biological family member with the condition
• Were born preterm or had a low birth weight
• Had exposure to toxins during fetal development (like alcohol, heavy metals or nicotine (cigarettes or vapes)

It’s common for people with dyslexia to also have other learning differences, like ADHD, dysgraphia (trouble writing) or dyscalculia (trouble with numbers and math). Identifying these together helps providers create more effective support.

Dyslexia can affect more than just reading. Without the right care, it may lead to other challenges, like:

• School avoidance: Frustration or embarrassment about learning can make school (or work) feel stressful.
• Poor performance: Trouble reading can make it harder to keep up in class or complete assignments on time.
• Social difficulties: Difficulty in school (or work) can affect confidence and make it harder to connect with peers.
• Mental health concerns: Ongoing stress or frustration can lead to anxiety or depression over time.

How doctors diagnose dyslexia

Dyslexia happens because of differences in your brain, but there aren’t any blood tests or lab screenings that can detect it. Instead, healthcare providers look for common signs through careful evaluation and testing.

Your provider may also check for other possible causes of learning problems. This could include hearing and vision tests or, in some cases, imaging tests to look at your brain.

Dyslexia testing

A psychologist or neurologist usually does the testing. They’ll review your medical history and ask questions to learn more about how you think and process information.

Testing for dyslexia often includes:

• Decoding: How well you sound out unfamiliar words
• Oral language skills: How you understand and use spoken language
• Reading fluency and comprehension: How smoothly and accurately you read and understand what you’ve read
• Spelling: How well you form and remember words
• Vocabulary: The number of words you know and can use
• Word recognition: How easily you identify familiar words

When should I have my child tested for dyslexia?

You can have your child tested as soon as you notice signs of the condition. Some signs may appear earlier than others, and you know your child best.

Early testing is important because it helps your child get support and learning tools sooner. Still, many people aren’t diagnosed until later in life. It’s never too late to talk with a healthcare provider if you have concerns about reading or learning difficulties for yourself.

What are the severity levels of dyslexia?

Your healthcare provider may describe your diagnosis using a severity level. This helps show how much support you may need:

• Mild: Reading and language difficulties are present, but you can manage them with extra help.
• Moderate: Challenges are more noticeable and require specialized instruction or specific learning help.
• Severe: Difficulties are strong and continue even with targeted teaching, accommodations and other interventions.

Treatment for children and teenagers

There isn’t a cure for dyslexia, but there are many ways to support learning and make reading easier. Because everyone learns differently, your care team and educators will create a plan that fits your specific needs. This may include:

• Specialized instruction: Teaching methods that use sight, sound and touch together can strengthen reading and spelling skills.
• School support: Classroom accommodations — like extra time on tests, oral testing or modified assignments — may help.
• Assistive technology: Tools like audiobooks, text-to-speech programs or word processors make reading and writing less stressful.
• Counseling or therapy: Mental health providers can help you manage frustration or anxiety related to reading challenges.
• Home activities: Reading aloud, listening to audiobooks and practicing language skills with loved ones can build confidence and strengthen skills outside of the classroom.

Strategies may change as you grow and learn. What works best can evolve over time, so regular check-ins with your care team or teachers can help keep your plan up to date.

Treatment for adults

Treatment for dyslexia in adults is similar to treatment for children. A teacher or tutor trained in dyslexia-focused methods can give personalized lessons and help track your progress. Treatment might include:

• Reading instruction: Step-by-step lessons that focus on reading and spelling can help. This includes practicing how to sound out new words and read more smoothly.
• Structured literacy programs: These programs teach how to break words into parts, like prefixes, suffixes and roots. They also help with understanding new or longer words.
• Building vocabulary and comprehension: Reading lessons often focus on learning new words and improving your understanding of what you read.
• Learning accommodations: If you’re in college or a training program, extra time, smaller classes and oral testing might make learning easier.
• Assistive technology: Tools like text-to-speech software, smartpens or spelling and grammar checkers can help with reading and writing tasks.
• Workplace support: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allows you to ask for accommodations at work, like written instructions or flexible training materials.

Having a supportive environment and learning how to ask for what you need can make a big difference in your long-term success.

When should I or my child see a healthcare provider?

If you think you or your child may have dyslexia, reach out for help as soon as possible.

For children, early signs often appear in kindergarten or first grade. You might notice trouble recognizing letters, sounding out simple words or keeping up with classmates despite extra effort. If these challenges last for several months, talk with your child’s teacher and healthcare provider.

Adults who struggle with reading or language skills should also speak with a provider. Dyslexia can go undiagnosed in childhood or develop later in life. Getting evaluated helps you access the right resources.

What can I expect with a dyslexia diagnosis?

Dyslexia is a lifelong condition. Children don’t outgrow it as they get older, but with the right care, both children and adults can improve their reading and language skills. Progress takes time and patience, but steady practice makes a difference.

Having dyslexia doesn’t stop you from succeeding or reaching your goals. Many people with dyslexia develop strong problem-solving, creativity and communication skills. You may just take a different path to get there.

It’s also normal to feel frustrated or discouraged at times. If this happens, talking with a mental health professional can help you manage stress and build confidence.