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Dyslexia is a condition in which an improper functioning of the brain causes a person to have difficulty recognizing and processing written or spoken words. People with dyslexia typically have trouble with reading and writing. In some cases, they may have problems writing, understanding and using language, as well as difficulties with their speech. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) classifies dyslexia as a “reading disorder.”

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disorders. It often does not become apparent until a child begins school. Symptoms of dyslexia include difficulty recognizing printed words and letters and reading comprehension that may be below even the first-grade or second-grade levels. Individuals with dyslexia may reverse words or letters while reading so that words such as “dog” appear as “god.”   

Early diagnosis of dyslexia is crucial. About 74 percent of children who do not receive help for dyslexia before the third grade will remain poor readers in the ninth grade, according to the International Dyslexia Association. Dyslexia cannot be diagnosed through a single test. Instead, a physician is likely to suggest that the child undergo a battery of tests by specialists to determine the exact nature of the disorder.