What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty related to language. These difficulties can affect literacy and other areas such as memory and organisation skills.
Dyslexia is not related to intelligence, it is often balanced by other strengths, and can range from mild to severe in nature. Approximately 40% of students with dyslexia are identified as having dyslexia whilst at University.
Indicators of Dyslexia
Students who have dyslexia may have difficulties in some of the following areas. This is not an exhaustive list, but indicates some common areas where issues may present:
Writing:
Difficulties with planning & structuring essays;
Differences between spoken and written ability;
Poor spelling;
Problems making lecture notes.
Reading:
Slow reading speed;
Misreading;
Difficulties extracting information from text;
Problems in reading aloud without preparation.
Organisation:
Poor organisational and time management skills;
Difficulty meeting deadlines.
Perception
Poor spatial orientation e.g. knowing left from right;
Difficulty map reading;
Difficulty following directions.
Memory
Weak short-term memory;
Forgetting names/telephone numbers;
Short attention span.
Coordination
Writing speed may be slow and illegible;
Clumsiness.
Numeracy
Issues with numeracy skills/sequencing.
Strengths of Dyslexia
Creative
Good Practical Skills,
Original ideas,
Artistic and spontaneous
Determined
Hard working,
Persistent and enthusiastic
People Orientated
Advanced verbal skills,
Uses highly personal association to aid memory
Information
Good visual-spatial skills,
Good problem solving and lateral thinking.