October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

Dyslexia is defined as a general term for difficulty interpreting words, letters, or symbols. While dyslexia is part of a group of conditions known as specific learning difficulties (SLD), dyslexia does not affect general intelligence. Individuals with dyslexia often have trouble with reading comprehension, spelling, and writing. Additionally, dyslexic people may not be able to read as quickly or as accurately as those without the condition. Some experts believe that between 5-10% of people have dyslexia, while others say that 17% of the population struggles with reading challenges that could be interpreted as dyslexia. It is because of this that many professionals consider dyslexia to be a group of disorders as opposed to one singular disorder.

Dyslexia is commonly diagnosed during childhood by doctors after specialists in clinics or schools notice certain learning patterns. Unfortunately, there is no single test that can definitely diagnose dyslexia. Doctors review the results of reading tests, a child’s development, their home life, their medical history, vision, hearing, and neurological tests, psychological tests, and reported symptoms to diagnose dyslexia.  While it can be diagnosed at several different ages, dyslexia is commonly diagnosed around age 5 or 6 to coincide with kids learning how to read. Some children with dyslexia are not diagnosed until adulthood, and others find that their symptoms change as they get older. 

Some telltale signs of dyslexia in childhood may include:

• Speech delays
• Difficulty with rhymes
• Difficulty identifying left vs. right
• Omitting short words
• Difficulty following complicated directions/instructions
• Inverting letters while writing or reading
• Trouble spelling 
• Avoidance to reading aloud
• Difficulty telling time 

It is important to note that while the aforementioned symptoms may indicate dyslexia, they do not mean that every individual who exhibits them has the condition. 

If you or your child has dyslexia, one way to show support may be to observe Dyslexia Awareness Month. Shedding light on this condition helps destigmatize it and reduce the shame and embarrassment that may sometimes be associated with children who are diagnosed with learning disabilities.  Dyslexia Awareness Month was first established in 2002. Since then, many events and opportunities have come about to help give students more resources to manage their dyslexia. The International Dyslexia Association is one of the best places to find additional information. The site offers stories from people living with dyslexia, insight into dyslexia on a global scale, updated fact sheets, and so much more.   CWI Medical does not claim to have any advanced testing mechanisms or screening test for dyslexia.

We offer resources to both consumers and healthcare professionals that include screeners such as eye charts, but would always recommend that medical concerns be addressed by healthcare professionals in a medical setting.  While October may be Dyslexia Awareness Month, it always important to make sure that those who struggle with reading comprehension get the tools and confidence they need to succeed year-round. For more information or questions, please reach out to us at CWI Medical.

Stay Connected!

Related Articles

• October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month
• How to Save with a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Skin Cancer Awareness: How to Detect the Disease Early on Yourself and Your Partner

Back to Articles