It is 130 years since the term 'dyslexia' was coined by
'Dyslexia' was coined by Kussmaul's contemporary, Rudolph Berlin, an ophthalmologist and academic, bringing the term in line with other common diagnoses of the time: alexia and paralexia (Berlin, 1883). These implied a physical disease of the brain, in which reading ability, in particular, was affected (Wagner, 1973).
The earliest detailed description of dyslexia that we have is from 1896 –Dr. Pringle Morgan in Sussex, England describes in his notes a bright and intelligent boy called Percy, who was 'quick at games' and was in no way inferior to his classmates, who simply couldn't learn to read with any fluency.
The word 'dyslexia' is derived from the Latin word 'dys', which translates to 'difficult', and the Greek word 'lexia', which translates to 'words'; it literally means, “difficulty with words”.
In Australia the term SLD (Specific/Significant Learning Difficulty/Disability) or LD (Learning Difficulty) are still commonly being used interchangeably and as an umbrella term for a variety of difficulties which may or may not be dyslexia.
Dyslexia In Australia – Statistics
According to the Australian Dyslexia Association, around 10% of the Australian population are dyslexic – but the figure may be higher, as many dyslexic persons have not been diagnosed. Other countries such as the US, Canada and the UK estimate up to 20% of the population are dyslexic.
People often confuse dyslexia and autism for one another or conflate them for their similarities. But they are two completely different disorders that affect the brains of people in different ways. While dyslexia is a learning difficulty, autism is a developmental disorder.
Some languages may be more problematic for dyslexic learners. Languages such as French and English are less transparent than other languages. This means that the sounds of the language don't match clearly to letter combinations and there are more irregularities in pronunciation and spelling.
Is dyslexia hereditary? Dyslexia is regarded as a neurobiological condition that is genetic in origin. This means that individuals can inherit this condition from a parent and it affects the performance of the neurological system (specifically, the parts of the brain responsible for learning to read).
So, to get back to your question, yes, dyslexia is “genetic.” And if you have one child with dyslexia, your other children are more likely to have it. Looking for signs of early reading problems can allow you to intervene as soon as possible. Having good reading instruction makes a big difference in reading success.
Perhaps one of the most famous figures known to have dyslexia is Albert Einstein, a theoretical physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 and has become synonymous with intelligence and wit.
They were put through a series of tests. 40% of the 300 millionaires who participated in the more comprehensive study had been diagnosed with dyslexia. It may also be referred to as reading disability, reading difference, or reading disorder. For more information, go to Dyslexia Basics..
Woodrow Wilson, 1856-1924, (learning disability)
28th President of the United States from 1913-1921 who is known to have a (learning disability) (dyslexia). World War I leader awarded Nobel Peace Prize for Versailles Treaty, 1919, domestic reforms included 1914 creation of Federal Reserve.
What Causes Dyslexia? It's linked to genes, which is why the condition often runs in families. You're more likely to have dyslexia if your parents, siblings, or other family members have it. The condition stems from differences in parts of the brain that process language.
The 4 types of dyslexia include phonological dyslexia, surface dyslexia, rapid naming deficit, and double deficit dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disorder where the person often has difficulty reading and interpreting what they read.
One of the criticisms that has been directed repeatedly at the use of the term dyslexia is that it carries the assumption that an inherent cognitive deficit results in the child struggling to learn to read – specifically, a weakness in phonological (speech sound) processing that makes it hard for the child to learn to ...
Both mothers and fathers can pass dyslexia on to their children if either parent has it. There is roughly a 50% – 60% chance of a child developing dyslexia if one of their parents has it.
Dyslexia is not a disease. It's a condition a person is born with, and it often runs in families. People with dyslexia are not stupid or lazy. Most have average or above-average intelligence, and they work very hard to overcome their reading problems.
Dyslexia is more prevalent among boys than girls. As with most learning disabilities, Dyslexia is more common among males – but different scientific studies report different figures. At least two thirds of people with Dyslexia are male.
Many adults with dyslexia see themselves as more emotionally sensitive than other people. In its most extreme form, high levels of emotional sensitivity are both a blessing and a weakness. The positive features of this trait helps adults build meaningful relationships with others.
Dyslexia is less common among Chinese speakers, but it definitely exists.
Get confused when given several instructions at once. Have difficulty organising thoughts on paper. Often forget conversations or important dates. Have difficulty with personal organisation, time management and prioritising tasks.
Some teachers and parents can mistake a dyslexic child for someone who is lacking intelligence. But the truth is dyslexia has nothing to do with a child's level of intelligence.
ADHD and dyslexia are separate conditions; however, if a person has both, it means they have broad executive function impairments (problems focusing, using working memory, etc.), as well as an impairment of the particular skills needed for reading, for example, processing symbols swiftly.
The National Sleep Foundations notes that ADHD is linked with a variety of sleep issues. A recent study found that children with ADHD and people with dyslexia had higher rates of daytime sleepiness than children without ADHD. Why Sleep disturbances caused by ADHD have been overlooked for a number of reasons.