Definition
Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental learning difference that mainly affects reading, spelling, and decoding words, despite typical intelligence and instruction. It reflects differences in how the brain processes written language.
Why It Matters
Dyslexia often co-occurs with autism and ADHD, and early, structured literacy support makes a large difference. Recognizing it prevents a bright child from being misread as careless or unmotivated.
Common Misconception
Dyslexia is not seeing letters backward or a sign of low intelligence. It is a specific difference in language processing, and many dyslexic people are strong thinkers, problem-solvers, and storytellers.