What is Dyslexia?

 The word ‘dyslexia’ comes from the Greek and means ‘difficulty with words’.Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty, mainly affecting reading and spelling. About 10% of the population are affected by dyslexia to some degree.

Definition:

Dyslexia tends to run in families. Brain scanning studies suggest that, in dyslexic people, the connections between different language areas of the brain do not work as efficiently as they should. However, these differences are not linked to intelligence, and there is evidence that many dyslexic people have strengths and abilities in tasks that involve creative and visually-based thinking.

Dyslexic people usually find it difficult to analyse and work with the sounds of spoken words, and many have difficulties with short-term memory, sequencing and organisation. This means that it is more difficult for them to learn how spoken sounds map onto letters, which affects the ability to spell and the ability to decode or ‘sound out’ words.

Dyslexia is not the same as a problem with reading, although some dyslexic people read slowly, or have to re-read information several times. Many dyslexic people read adequately, but have continuing difficulties with spelling, writing, memory and organisation.  Dyslexia can also causes problems in maths: many dyslexic people have difficulties with arithmetic and with learning and recalling number facts.

Possible weaknesses could include:

• Reading slowly and/or re-reading text several times.
• Misreading, making understanding difficult.
• Difficulty with sequences, e.g. getting dates in order.
• Poor organisation or time management.
• Difficulty organising thoughts clearly.
• Erratic spelling.

 

Possible strengths include:

• Innovative thinkers.
• Excellent trouble shooters.
• Intuitive problem solving.
• Creative in many different ways.
• Lateral thinkers.

 

Why not look at the adult checklist at: http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/adultchecklist.html

 

If you tick more than 9 boxes on the checklist and/or would like to have a full diagnostic test, please book an appointment to see Erin, Brigid or Katie by calling 01204 903733, dropping into the Student centre, or emailing disabilityinfo@bolton.ac.uk.

 

If you have already been diagnosed as having dyslexia, there is support available to you during your studies – come and see us to discuss this!

 

The Disability Service

 

(see also http://www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk/default.aspx and http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/)