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How Dyslexia affects Students
Dyslexia is a recognised difficulty under the Equality Act 2010. It is a life-long condition which affects each person differently in the areas of reading, writing and spelling. Alongside these difficulties someone with dyslexia may also struggle with:
- short-term memory
- organisation
- processing and sequencing information
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Common Questions about Dyslexia
[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_tab_nav type=”three-up” float=”top”][x_tab_nav_item title=”Is Dyslexia Inherited?” active=”true”][x_tab_nav_item title=”Is there a Cure?” active=”false”][x_tab_nav_item title=”Who is Affected?” active=”false”][/x_tab_nav][x_tabs][x_tab active=”true”]Research has shown 70% of learners identified with dyslexia have other family members with dyslexia or dyslexic type tendencies. The link tends to be on the male side of the family.
The Dyslexia Research Trust publishes information about the likelihood of inheriting dyslexia from one or both parents where it is present in the family.[/x_tab][x_tab active=”false”]A cure is unlikely as research suggests there is a genetic and biological basis related to the early development of the brain.
The journal of medical genetics has various in-depth articles published on the internet on the subject. Link to listing on the journal.[/x_tab][x_tab active=”false”]According to this NHS website article up to 20% of people are estimated as having some form of dyslexia.
In a British Dyslexia Association web article, it is estimated that 10% of the child population have dyslexia.
A study by Rutter, M (2004) found that dyslexia was two to three times more prevalent in males than females.
Rutter, M. Caspi, A. Fergusson, D.M. Horwood, L.J. Goodman, R. Maughan, B. et al. (2004). Gender differences in reading difficulties: Findings from four epidemiology studies. Journal of the American Medical Association, 291, 2007-2012.[/x_tab][/x_tabs][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]
Associated Conditions
[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_accordion][x_accordion_item title=”Dyspraxia” open=”false”]Dyspraxia is a developmental condition affecting gross motor coordination. There may be other co-occurring difficulties which could include social and emotional problems, as well as issues with time management, planning and organisation.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”Dyscalculia” open=”false”]Dyscalculia is more than just not being good at numeracy. A person who has dyscalculia has a much greater degree of difficulty in understanding the concepts and symbols used in mathematics for which mastering the calculations of number operations, time and measurements.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”ADHD” open=”false”]ADHD is a group of behavioural symptoms that affects a person’s attention and concentration, hyperactivity and impulsiveness which affects how that person behaves. In conjunction with dyslexia the individual is likely to have further difficulty with aspects of memory, understanding spoken instructions, focusing on tasks and expressing themselves clearly.[/x_accordion_item][x_accordion_item title=”Language Impairment” open=”false”]Specific language impairment is also called developmental language disorder, language delay or developmental dysphasia. This is a language disorder that delays the mastery of language skills.[/x_accordion_item][/x_accordion][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]
Printed Text
This video shows how printed text can appear to some who has scotopic sensitivity (Irlen syndrome).[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_video_embed no_container=”false” type=”16:9″][/x_video_embed][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_tab_nav type=”three-up” float=”top”][x_tab_nav_item title=”Scotopic Sensitivity” active=”true”][x_tab_nav_item title=”Indicators” active=”false”][x_tab_nav_item title=”Strategies” active=”false”][/x_tab_nav][x_tabs][x_tab active=”true”]Visual stress or scotopic sensitivity, also referred to as Meares-Irlen syndrome or Irlen, is a perceptual processing disorder, causing those affected to experience visual distortions. Text can become distorted which makes reading a very challenging task. It is not a vision impairment, the diagnosis can be made by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. A pupil who has dyslexia does not necessarily have visual stress and vice versa as the two conditions are separate, however they may occur together.[/x_tab][x_tab active=”false”]The following are indicators of visual stress.
Letters or words may:
- blur and/or go out of focus
- move or shimmer or shake
- fall off the page
- appear back to front
- break into two and appear as double
Those affected may:
- have headaches when reading
- find it easier to read large, widely spaced print, than small and crowded
- have difficulty with tracking across the page
- be oversensitive to glare on the page or bright lights
[/x_tab][x_tab active=”false”]As a general rule, any reported issues with vision need to be checked out. Talk to the SENCO about any concerns in the first instance.
The use of non-invasive colour filtering technology known as spectral filters can eliminate the stress on the brain that causes difficulties. Cream or pastel coloured backgrounds can help alleviate difficulties, as can the coloured filters used as an overlay on printed materials.
Text colour and background colour combinations can also affect clarity, with some combinations such as red on white making the text almost invisible for some pupils.[/x_tab][/x_tabs][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]
