Characteristics of Dyslexia

Characteristics and Consequences of Dyslexia Primary reading/spelling characteristics of dyslexia are difficulties with:

• Reading words in isolation
• Accurately decoding unfamiliar words
• Oral reading (slow, inaccurate, or labored without prosody)
• Spelling
Individuals demonstrate differences in degree of impairment and may not exhibit all the characteristics listed above.

 

The reading/spelling characteristics are most often associated with:

• 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:

• Variable difficulty with aspects of reading comprehension
• Variable difficulty with aspects of written language
• Limited vocabulary growth due to reduced reading experiences

 

The Dyslexia Handbook, 2024 Update: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders