KENT WEST DYSLEXIA ASSOCIATION
What is dyslexia?
The word ‘dyslexia’ comes from Greek and means ‘difficulty with words’. Around 4% of the population is severely dyslexic with 6% having a mild to moderate problem.
Dyslexia is generally present at birth and has life-long-lasting effects. It is a puzzling mix of both difficulties and strengths, it varies in degree and from person to person, occurring in people from all backgrounds and of all abilities.
Dyslexia affects the underlying skills that are needed to acquire literacy and language-related skills, it is characterised by slow processing skills around word recognition and language.
There can be possible difficulties with…
v Short-term memory
v Thought processing and organisation
v Sequencing (eg numbers, dates, etc)
v Erratic spelling
v Hesitant reading or misreading, affecting understanding
v Organising time and work
v Achievements generally not reflecting ability
But there’s good news too…
The effects of dyslexia can be reduced by appropriate specialist teaching, use of the wide range of available technology, and an understanding environment. Dyslexics can also have unique and highly developed skills. They often see things from a different perspective, can be very creative and great problem solvers. Here are just a few of the many who are famous…
v The brilliant Albert Einstein
v The inventive Thomas Edison
v The creative Jamie Oliver
v The entrepreneurial Richard Branson, Theo Paphitis and Guy Hands