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What Are the Different Types of Dyslexia
By Valencia HigueraMedically Reviewed by Justin Laube, MDReviewed: July 13, 2020Medically ReviewedLearn to recognize the different aspects of dyslexia and the learning disabilities that are sometimes associated with dyslexia.iStockDyslexia is a condition that may affect between 15 and 20 percent of the population, according to the International Dyslexia Association. (1) It’s a language-based learning disability that involves many different symptoms. While it can’t be cured, it can certainly be treated, and the type of treatment an individual receives depends on the kind of dyslexia they’re experiencing. Symptoms of dyslexia vary depending on age, with some young children experiencing late speech, difficulty learning new words, and trouble with rhyming games. These and other symptoms of dyslexia often become more apparent once a child starts school. These children may read below the expected level for their age and have difficulty forming sentences and finding the right words. Because of an inability to sound out words or pronounce unfamiliar words, some children avoid reading out loud. If left untreated, dyslexia can affect an individual’s ability to meet their full potential at work or school, says Kimberly R. Freeman, PhD, the executive associate chair of social work and social ecology at Loma Linda University in San Bernardino, California. Reading specialists and psychologists can help identify the specific dyslexia challenges an individual has. No institution has created an official, diagnostic list of dyslexia subtypes, and some experts believe there aren't "types" of dyslexia so much as a continuum or spectrum of various cognitive issues. While research is ongoing, other experts contend that the four subtypes outlined below are the most common. What Does It Mean to Have Phonological Dyslexia
Some people with dyslexia may have difficulty with phonemic awareness, which is the ability to recognize individual letter sounds in a word and then blend those sounds into a word. It can be difficult to break words into syllables, and to connect letters and words to the sounds they correspond to. (2,3 PDF) What Does It Mean to Have Surface Dyslexia
Surface dyslexia is described as the inability to read words that are spelled differently from how they’re pronounced. Words that can prove challenging to people with surface dyslexia might include “yacht,” “thorough,” and “subtle.” (4) Surface dyslexia is sometimes referred to as visual dyslexia because individuals with this condition have difficulty recognizing words by sight. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that dyslexia doesn’t usually involve a problem with vision or eyesight — it’s caused by a difference in the way a person’s brain recognizes letters, numbers, and words. It’s also important to note that problems with vision can sometimes mimic dyslexia, so specialists and physicians will aim to rule out a number of other factors before making a dyslexia diagnosis. Editor s Picks for Conditions Related to Dyslexia
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What Does It Mean to Have Rapid Automatic Naming Dyslexia
For those living with this type of dyslexia, recognition of letters and numbers doesn’t happen quickly. It may take longer for the person's brain to process the information, which may lead to slower reading times. (2) What Does It Mean to Have Double Deficit Dyslexia
It’s not uncommon to have more than one kind of dyslexia. (5) The two types that frequently appear together are phonological dyslexia and rapid naming deficit dyslexia. When a person has both of these, it’s often referred to as double deficit dyslexia. (6) What Other Learning Disabilities May Occur With Dyslexia
There are several learning disabilities that may occur with dyslexia that are not dyslexia. For example, a person may be diagnosed with dyslexia, but also have:Dyscalculia, or difficulty with mathDysgraphia, or difficulty writingLeft-right disorder, or trouble telling left from right Scientists are still trying to determine what causes these disorders, but research suggests that, at least in some cases, they may be neurological in origin. (2,7,8) Is There Such a Thing as Math Dyslexia
No. What people call math dyslexia is actually a disorder called dyscalculia, which occurs when a person has difficulty computing numbers. Dyscalculia may appear in a person with dyslexia, but it is not a form of dyslexia. This disorder affects approximately 3 to 6 percent of children. (9) Symptoms can vary, but in many cases a person may have difficulty remembering and organizing numbers, or they may have trouble telling time. As with dyslexia, individuals may avoid situations where math may be involved. Other symptoms may include difficulty with: (2,10)Word problemsCarrying and borrowing numbersManaging moneyUnderstanding quantityUnderstanding positive and negative valuesUnderstanding time (such as days of the week)Understanding charts and graphs Recognizing symptoms of dyscalculia can be difficult because many children and adults have a hard time with math. But as a parent or teacher, there are specific signs you can look for depending on a child’s age. For example, a preschooler who has symptoms of dyscalculia may have trouble counting, or they may not grasp the concept of counting, according to the nonprofit organization Understood for All. (11) In grade school, signs of dyscalculia may include an inability to recall basic math. For example, a child may have difficulty grasping the concept that 2 + 2 = 4. (11) Or an older child may still use their fingers to count when figuring out simple math problems like the above. (11) Most Popular
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What Does It Mean to Have Dysgraphia
A person with dysgraphia has handwriting that may display several irregularities, such as: (7,12)Inconsistent spacing of letters and wordsMissing or transposed lettersMissing wordsOdd spellingsDifferently shaped or sized lettersIllegibilityMore on Handwriting and Health What To Do When MS Affects Your Ability To Write
What Does It Mean to Have Left-Right Confusion
In left-right confusion, a person has trouble distinguishing right from left. Individuals with this disorder may have trouble with directions or reading maps. This is sometimes called directional dyslexia, but that’s inaccurate. As with dyscalculia, it may appear with dyslexia, but it’s not a form of dyslexia. According to Understood, it’s frequently related to other learning difficulties, such as: (13)DyslexiaDyscalculiaDysgraphiaNonverbal learning disabilities, which affect physical coordination, social interaction, and executive functioning (14) Resources We Love
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Dyslexia Basics. International Dyslexia Association.Different Types of Dyslexia. Understood for All.Learning Difficulties Factsheet 6: What Is Phonological Processing? [PDF] Australian Capital Territory Education and Training. 2014.Surface Dyslexia. ScienceDirect.Zoubrinetsky R, Bielle F, Valdois S. New Insights on Developmental Dyslexia Subtypes: Heterogeneity of Mixed Reading Profiles. PLoS One. June 2014.Vukovic R, Siegel L. The Double-Deficit Hypothesis: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Evidence. Journal of Learning Disabilities. January–February 2006.Dysgraphia Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. March 2019.Hjelmervik H, Westerhausen R, et al. The Neural Correlates of Sex Differences in Left–Right Confusion. NeuroImage. June 2015.Kucian K, von Aster M. Developmental Dyscalculia. European Journal of Pediatrics. January 2015.Dyscalculia. Learning Disabilities Association of America.Understanding Dyscalculia. Understood for All.Dysgraphia. Learning Disabilities Association of America.Rosen P. Why Kids May Have Trouble Learning Left From Right. Understood for All.Miller C. What Is Non-Verbal Learning Disorder? Child Mind Institute.SourcesLearning Disabilities: Condition Information. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. September 11, 2018.Show Less The Latest in Dyslexia
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