Dyslexia: Myths and Misconceptions

Dyslexia is defined by the International Dyslexia Institute (IDA) as a specific, lifelong 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. 

There are 3 very common myths regarding students with dyslexia: 

Myth Number 1:

People with dyslexia see things backwards.

Fact:

People with dyslexia see things the same as everyone else. Dyslexia is not a vision problem. They do have problems with directionality and have difficulty finding the right name for things. Individuals with dyslexia actually have trouble processing and manipulating the sounds of language. 

Myth Number 2:

Dyslexia is rare.

Fact:

Dyslexia affects 1 in 5 people, according to 25+ years of research by the National Institutes of Health and Studies at Yale University. 

Myth Number 3:

Children with dyslexia will outgrow it.

Fact:

Children do not outgrow dyslexia. It is a neurobiological disorder. However, with proper instruction and intervention, children with dyslexia can learn to read and spell by strengthening the neuro pathways.