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Reading disability
Definition of Reading Disability
A reading disability is a condition in which a student displays difficulty in reading. Examples of
reading disabilities include: developmental dyslexia, alexia (acquired dyslexia),
and hyperlexia (word-reading ability well above normal for age and IQ).
1. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and
fluent word reading and spelling.
2. Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological
awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed.
3. Dyslexia occurs across the range of intellectual abilities.
4. It is best thought of as a continuum, not a distinct category, and
there are no clear cut-off points.
5. Co-occurring difficulties may be seen in aspects of language,
motor co-ordination, mental calculation, concentration and
personal organisation, but these are not, by themselves, markers
of dyslexia.
6. A good indication of the severity and persistence of dyslexic
difficulties can be gained by examining how the individual
responds or has responded to well founded intervention.
Reading disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning disability that manifests itself as a difficulty with word decoding and
reading fluency. Comprehension may be affected as a result of difficulties with decoding, but is
not a primary feature of dyslexia. It is separate and distinct from reading difficulties resulting
from other causes, such as a non-neurological deficiency with vision or hearing, or from poor or
inadequate reading instruction.
It is estimated that dyslexia affects between 5–17% of the population.
Dyslexia has been proposed to have three cognitive subtypes (auditory, visual and attentional),
although individual cases of dyslexia are better explained by the underlying neuropsychological
deficits and co-occurring learning disabilities (e.g. attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, math
disability, etc.
Although not an intellectual disability, it is considered both a learning disability and a reading
disability.
Dyslexia and IQ are not interrelated, since reading and cognition develop independently in
individuals who have dyslexia"Nerve problems can cause damage to the control of eye muscles
which can also cause diplopia.".
Hyperlexia
Hyperlexic children are characterized by word-reading ability well above what would be
expected given their ages and IQs.
Hyperlexia can be viewed as a superability in which word recognition ability goes far above
expected levels of skill.
However, in spite of few problems with decoding, comprehension is poor. Some hyperlexics also
have trouble understanding speech.
Most or perhaps all children with hyperlexia lie on the .
autism spectrumBetween 5–10% of autistic children have been estimated to be hyperlexic.
Remediation
Remediation includes both appropriate remedial instruction and classroom accommodations.