What is Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that makes it very difficult for people to read, write and/or spell. It has nothing to do with the person’s intelligence. Often weaknesses may be seen in areas such as of language development, memory and sequencing. Having dyslexia does not mean that your child’s ability to learn is below average. In fact, many people with dyslexia are smart and motivated to learn. But not being able to read well can make many areas of learning a problem. Dyslexia describes a different kind of mind, sometimes gifted and productive, that learns differently.

Dyslexia is a specific learning difference that is neurological in origin. It can go undetected in the early years of schooling. The child can become frustrated by the difficulty in learning to read, and other problems can arise that disguise dyslexia. One may notice a discrepancy between the child’s intellectual abilities and achievements. In the long run, the child may have low self-esteem and displays frequent behaviour problems at home as well as at school. In addiion, the child may become unmotivated and develop a dislike for school. As a result, the child's success in school is jeopardized if the problem remains untreated.

It has been estimated that about 10% of Singaporeans may be dyslexic which tends to be run in families. Dyslexia can range from mild to severe and often occurs alongside other specific learning difficulties, such as Specific Language Impairment or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, resulting in a variation in the degree and nature of individuals’ strengths and weaknesses. Dyslexia is life-long, but the difficulties caused by dyslexia can be overcomed with successful specialist teaching and the use of compensatory strategies.