Developmental Dyslexia
Often there is a family history of specific learning differences.
Dyslexic people often have a well-developed sense of justice, social skills and unexpected talents, flair or enthusiasms that lead to great charm or success in science, entertainment, politics or business; for example: Steven Spielberg, Jamie Oliver, Richard Branson, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Whoopi Goldberg, Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin.
On the other hand, dyslexia is three to four times more common amongst offenders in prison than in the general population, where estimates vary between 5 and 15%. Rack, J. (2005), The Incidence of Hidden Disabilities in the Prison Population, Dyslexia Institute, Egham, Surrey.
You might consider that a child or adult you know has developmental dyslexia if they have or had problems with:
- learning to read, reading speed or reading comprehension
- learning to spell high frequency words
- remembering instructions and appointments
- gazing out of the window when they are supposed to be listening; dreamy
- confusions: was and saw; 9 and 6, b , d and p; left and right
- speech is noticeably better than written work
- grammar or malapropisms or mispronunciations or all
- rambling style of speech or written work or both
- weak punctuation or erratic use of capiTal letters
- slow or inaccurate copying from the board or screen
- learning and repeating sequences – alphabet, days of week, times tables, months of the year
- reluctance to read and write: prefers visual imagery and literacy
- watches others to see what they do, for example when following instructions for sporting activities
- concentration
- confidence
- getting ideas down on paper
- boarding the 73 not the 37 bus
- switches off when the teacher talks
- better with practical tasks
- forgets concepts from one week to next
- using scissors
- bizarre spelling: stiffcutt; muncee; noyse
- forgets to bring dinner money, pencils, PE kit, cooking ingredients
- dislikes school or other disciplined, constrained environments