What Is Dyslexia?

The Learning Solution's definition of dyslexia

Dyslexia is a difference in the way the brain wants to learn to read, write, and spell. There is nothing "wrong" with a dyslexic brain. In fact, because the brain is constructed differently, there are many strengths that accompany dyslexia. Dyslexia does not look the same in any two people. However, you can identify dyslexia by looking for a cluster of characteristics, which may include:

• Difficulty learning to tie shoes
• Mixing up the sounds or syllables in long words (such as "aminal" instead of animal, "bisgetti" instead of spaghetti, and "mazagine" instead of magazine)
• Very unusual spelling, sometimes with no vowels
• Difficulty telling time on a clock with hands
• Great musical ability, but unable to read music
• Great creativity

The most widely accepted definition of dyslexia as accepted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, as well as the International Dyslexia Association

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.