Mabank ISD Dyselxia & Related Disorders

"Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge."

Students identified as having dyslexia typically experience primary difficulties in phonological awareness, including phonemic awareness and manipulation, single-word reading, reading fluency, and spelling. Consequences may include difficulties in reading comprehension and/or written expression. These difficulties in phonological awareness are unexpected for the student's age and educational level and are not primarily the result of language difference factors. Additionally, there is often a family history of similar difficulties. 

The following are the reading/spelling characteristics of dyslexia:

• Difficulty reading words in isolation;

• Difficulty accurately decoding unfamiliar words;

• Difficulty with oral reading (slow, inaccurate, or labored);

• Difficulty Spelling

It is important to note that individuals demonstrate differences in degree of impairment. 

The reading/spelling characteristics are most often associated with the following: 

• Segmenting, blending, and manipulating sounds in words (phonemic awareness);

• Learning the names of letters and their associated sounds;

• Holding information about sounds and words in memory (phonological memory);

• Rapidly recalling the names of familiar objects, colors, or letters of the alphabet (rapid naming).

Consequences of dyslexia may include the following:

• Variable difficulty with aspects of reading comprehension;

• Variable difficulty with aspects of written language;

• Limited vocabulary growth due to reduced reading experiences.

For more information: 

• Visit the International Dyslexia Association for answers to Frequently Asked Questions

• View/download the Texas Education Agency's Dyslexia Handbook (available in English & Spanish)

(Information adopted from "The Dyslexia Handbook", TEA, 2021 Update)

Kindergarten - 3rd Grade:

• Failure to understand that words are made up of parts or individual sounds

• Difficulty learning letter names and associated sounds

• Difficulty reading single words in isolation

• Choppy and labored reading

• Difficulty with spelling

4th Grade - High School: 

• History of reading and spelling difficulties

• Avoids reading aloud

• Reads most materials slowly; oral reading is labored, not fluent

• Difficulty with spelling