Module 1: Defining Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that primarily affects reading and spelling abilities (Snowling et al., 2020). While it is characterized by difficulties in phonological processing, word recognition, and decoding, the severity and specific manifestations can differ significantly among individuals. Dyslexia often coexists with other learning difficulties, adding to its complexity. In this section, we will explore the different characteristics and manifestations of dyslexia to better understand its impacts.

Learning objectives:

By the end of this module, you will be able to…

• Define dyslexia and list common symptoms associated with it.
• Describe how dyslexia can affect reading, spelling, phonological processing, word recognition, and decoding.

Further Reading

The Critical Role of Instructional Response for Identifying Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities – PMC www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Defining and understanding dyslexia: past, present and future – PMC – www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov The Prevalence of Dyslexia: A New Approach to its Estimation – PMC (nih.gov) The Role of Visual Factors in Dyslexia – PMC (nih.gov) Understanding Dyslexia in the Context of Developmental Language Disorders – PMC – www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov