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Dyslexia is a learning disorder that impacts a person's ability to read, spell, and write, often making it difficult to decode words and comprehend language. It is a neurobiological condition, resulting from variations in how the brain processes language, not from a lack of intelligence or motivation.

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Dyslexia is a learning disability in reading. People with dyslexia have trouble reading at a good pace and without mistakes. They may also have a hard time with reading comprehension, spelling, and writing. But these challenges aren't a problem with intelligence.

Snapshot: What dyslexia is

Dyslexia is a common condition that makes it hard to work with language. Some experts believe that between 5 and 10 percent of people have it. Others say as many as 17 percent of people show signs of reading challenges.

People with dyslexia don't outgrow it. But there are teaching approaches and strategies that can help them improve their reading skills and manage the challenges. People of any age can be tested for dyslexia, although the tests are different for adults than for kids.

People with dyslexia typically have trouble reading fluently. They often read slowly and make mistakes. That can impact how well they comprehend what they read. But when other people read to them, they often have no problem understanding the text.

Dyslexia can create difficulty with other skills, too. These include:

It's important to know that while dyslexia impacts learning, it's not a problem of intelligence. People with dyslexia are just as smart as their peers. There are countless stories about people thriving with dyslexia, including actors, entrepreneurs, and elected officials.

Dyslexia signs and symptoms

Dyslexia impacts people in different ways. So, symptoms might not look the same from one person to another.

A key sign of dyslexia is trouble decoding words. This is the ability to match letters to sounds. Kids can also struggle with a more basic skill called phonemic awareness. This is the ability to recognize the sounds in words. Trouble with phonemic awareness can show up as early as preschool.

In some people, dyslexia isn't picked up until later on, when they have trouble with more complex skills. These can include grammar, reading comprehension, reading fluency, sentence structure, and more in-depth writing.

Some of the signs of dyslexia have to do with emotions and behavior. People with dyslexia might avoid reading, both out loud and to themselves. They may even get anxious or frustrated when reading. This can happen even after they've mastered the basics of reading.

Dyslexia doesn't just affect learning. It can also impact everyday skills and activities. These include social interaction, memory, and dealing with stress.

Possible causes of dyslexia

Researchers haven't yet pinpointed exactly what causes dyslexia. But they do know that genes and brain differences play a role. Here are some of the possible causes of dyslexia:

Genes and heredity: Dyslexia often runs in families. About 40 percent of siblings of people with dyslexia also struggle with reading. As many as 49 percent of parents of kids with dyslexia have it, too. Scientists have also found genes linked to problems with reading and processing language.

Brain anatomy and activity: Brain imaging studies have shown brain differences between people with and without dyslexia. These differences happen in areas of the brain involved with key reading skills. Those skills are knowing how sounds are represented in words, and recognizing what written words look like.

But the brain can change. Studies show that brain activity in people with dyslexia changes after they get proper instruction or tutoring. And scientists are learning more all the time.

How dyslexia is diagnosed

Having a diagnosis (schools call it an identification) can lead to supports and services at school, and accommodations at college and work.

There are a few types of professionals who can assess people for dyslexia. These include school psychologists, clinical psychologists, and neuropsychologists. An evaluator will give a series of tests for dyslexia. They'll test in other areas as well to see exactly where any weaknesses and strengths lie.

School evaluations are free. But private ones can be very expensive. In some cases, there are ways to get them for free or at a low cost. Local universities often have programs in psychology that have clinics where students do their training.

Teaching hospitals may have research projects where people can get evaluations for free. Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) has local chapters in every state. They may be able to help with finding free or low-cost options.

About the author

About the author

The Understood Team is made up of passionate writers and editors. Many of them have kids who learn and think differently.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Guinevere Eden, PhD is a professor at Georgetown University and director of its Center for the Study of Learning.

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Understood.org is the resource that helps the 70 million people with learning and thinking differences anticipate the challenges, barriers, or opportunities in life and confidently reach their potential.

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Learning disabilities are variations in how a person’s brain functions, which can impact their ability to read, write, speak, perform math, or manage similar tasks. Definitions of “learning disability” can vary depending on the organization or its area of focus. These challenges are not linked to a person’s intelligence—they simply reflect a different way of processing information. With the right interventions and support, individuals with learning disabilities can develop the skills needed to read, write, communicate, and solve problems as effectively as their peers.

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Learning disabilities are differences in a person’s brain that can affect how well they read, write, speak, do math, and handle other similar tasks. Different groups may define “learning disability” differently, often depending on the focus of the organization.

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The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) is the oldest organization focused on the study and treatment of dyslexia. It is dedicated to offering comprehensive resources and services that address the wide range of challenges associated with dyslexia and related reading and writing difficulties. The IDA traces its origins back to the 1920s, rooted in the groundbreaking research of Dr. Samuel T. Orton in reading and multisensory instruction. Following Dr. Orton’s passing, his wife and professional partner, June Orton, established the Orton Society in 1949 to carry on his legacy by training educators and producing instructional materials.

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The blog post from American University's School of Education explores dyslexia—a language-based learning disorder—and offers practical strategies for educators to support affected students. Dyslexia involves difficulty recognizing language sounds and understanding how they relate to written words, which can hinder reading, writing, and spelling skills. The article highlights age-specific symptoms, such as trouble with letter sounds and sight words in early grades, and difficulties with note-taking and summarizing in later years. It also emphasizes the academic and emotional impact of dyslexia, noting that students may struggle to keep up with peers and experience frustration or low self-esteem. To help address these challenges, the blog recommends multisensory learning, assistive technology, and classroom accommodations to create a supportive and effective learning environment.

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Stephen Spielberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Cher-people often cite these celebrities as individuals who managed to thrive despite the potential limitations of their dyslexia. While it's encouraging to know that people can overcome the challenges of this learning difference, educators need practical tools to help them support students with dyslexia.

An advanced degree in education can equip educators with key teaching strategies for students with dyslexia, helping to ensure equity for all learners.

What Is the Definition of Dyslexia?

By definition, dyslexia is a learning disorder that includes trouble recognizing language sounds and how they relate to written language, also known as "decoding." Areas in the brain responsible for processes that detect and link sounds to their corresponding letters don't function in people with dyslexia the same way that they do in people without it. Research published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities suggests dyslexia can affect up to one in five people.

Although it doesn't impair development or intellectual functioning, this variation in neuro processing makes it difficult for students with dyslexia to quickly and accurately hear, store, remember, and produce different speech sounds. As a result, students with dyslexia can struggle with reading, writing, and spelling. They frequently take longer to decode words when reading and may have limited comprehension of what they've read. They also may have trouble rapidly verbalizing responses to what they see.

Dyslexia Symptoms

Dyslexia presents itself in various ways, but a student's age strongly factors into the symptoms teachers may observe.

Students with dyslexia in grades K-5 struggle to remember letter names and sounds. Recognizing sight words also poses a problem. When reading aloud, these students may substitute words and confuse letters with similar appearances or sounds. For example, students commonly mix up the letters b and d.

Additional signs of dyslexia in this age group include difficulties:

Blending letter sounds

Sounding out unfamiliar words

Recognizing words that rhyme

Skipping smaller words such as of and by when reading aloud

Spelling the same word consistently

Remembering important details from readings

It's common for younger students with dyslexia to feel frustrated and overwhelmed when reading. Many avoid reading as much as possible.

Students in grades 6-12 may have a hard time recalling common abbreviations and acronyms such as approx. and ASAP. These students may need much more time to read assignments than their peers. When speaking, they may struggle to find the right words and use substitutes instead. For example, they may substitute the word gate for fence.

Other common signs of dyslexia for older students include:

Taking notes and copying material from the board

Following multistep instructions

Spelling all words phonetically

Summarizing stories

Making sense of jokes, idioms, and puns

Reading at a normal or quick pace

Effects of Dyslexia on Students

Dyslexia can significantly affect students in classroom environments, especially when educators don't use inclusive teaching strategies for students with dyslexia to help address its related challenges. For starters, dyslexia can impede a student's academic progress. Students with dyslexia may struggle to keep up with their peers. Their basic skills, such as word reading, can fall below grade level, as do their reading comprehension and analysis skills.

Research also shows that dyslexia can affect students' ability to perform across the curriculum. In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities found that students with dyslexia performed well below their peers in both reading and math. Such learning deficits build up over time, making it more and more challenging for students with dyslexia to experience academic success.

In addition to its academic impact, dyslexia has social and emotional impacts. As noted, some students with dyslexia struggle to find words, making it hard for them to express themselves. This can interfere with their ability to make social and emotional connections.

At some point, students with dyslexia also begin to notice that they don't learn as fast as their peers. This may cause them to question their intelligence and develop low self-esteem. It may also cause them to withdraw or misbehave out of frustration.

Tips for Teaching Students With Dyslexia

While students with dyslexia face challenges, they can still thrive in school if given the right support. Teaching strategies for students with dyslexia can help these learners compensate for the different ways that their brains process information, giving them a chance to succeed academically.

Incorporate Multisensory Learning

In many classrooms, students rely almost entirely on their sight and hearing to learn. Multisensory learning aims to incorporate tactile and kinesthetic activities into the learning process as well. This gives students with dyslexia more ways to understand, remember, and recall new information.

Multisensory learning engages students in movements and activities that involve touch. This, coupled with the use of visual and auditory materials, creates multiple opportunities for students with dyslexia to absorb and retain information. It also helps take abstract ideas and turn them into something more concrete.

Multisensory activities may include:

Sand Writing

For sand writing activities, students receive paper plates with sand. The teacher calls out a sound and students repeat it. Students then trace a letter in the sand corresponding to that sound as they verbalize the letter's name and sound.

This kinesthetic activity stimulates the brain in many different ways, giving students a greater chance of successful retention.

Blending Boards

For blending board activities, teachers use large cards printed with individual letters; digraphs, such as ph and ck; or blends, such as sh and st, to form a CVC word: a word consisting of a consonant, a vowel, and a consonant. To help students read the word, the teacher covers up the letters and reveals them one by one. Students produce the sound of each letter individually and then blend them together to read the word in its entirety.

Arm Tapping

For arm tapping activities, teachers display a card with a word written on it. Using their dominant hand, students say the letters of the word. As they say each letter, they simultaneously tap their arms, starting from their shoulder down to their wrist. Next, students say the whole word and sweep their hands down their arms as if underlining the word.

Use Assistive Technology

Assistive technology empowers students with dyslexia to overcome some of the challenges that hold them back. These tools help students save time and give them a chance to showcase their abilities and knowledge in ways not possible before. Assistive technologies range from recording devices that allow students to take notes to voice recognition tools that transform speech into text on a screen.

Assistive technologies that can help students keep pace with their classmates include:

Pocket Spellcheckers

These devices contain dictionaries that recognize phonetically misspelled words. Students type in a word to the best of their ability and the spellchecker provides the word's correct spelling through text or audio. Students with dyslexia can use this tool to build their confidence when writing and get instant feedback on their spelling.

Line Readers

Some students with dyslexia struggle to see words accurately on the page. Letters may appear to be moving or students may see them in the wrong order. Line readers can help eliminate some of these distractions. The tool highlights a single line of text at a time and blocks the surrounding areas. This helps students keep their place and stay focused.

Digital Scanning Pens

Digital scanning pens can capture both handwritten and digital text and transmit it to a mobile device or a computer. Some versions of the tool read text out loud as a user scans it.

Provide Appropriate Accommodations

Students with dyslexia often have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that lay out accommodations appropriate to their needs. Educators are responsible for familiarizing themselves with these accommodations, which may include the following:

Extended time to take tests

The option to provide oral answers rather than written ones

Exemption from reading out loud in class

A quiet study space

Additionally, when introducing new material, teachers can use teaching strategies for students with dyslexia such as:

Preteaching vocabulary and unfamiliar ideas

Providing outlines of the lesson with space for student to add notes

Creating advance organizers that preview the material covered in the lesson

Giving students a glossary of terms used in the lesson

Teachers may also consider the following inclusive strategies when giving instructions:

Offering written step-by-step directions and reading them aloud

Keeping instructions simple

Showing students how to break assignments into smaller tasks

Providing checklists that help students monitor their understanding and progress

Underlining keywords and ideas on materials that students should read first

Giving examples of completed work, along with rubrics

Empower Dyslexic Students to Thrive

Educators who effectively employ teaching strategies for students with dyslexia open doors for a group of learners who might otherwise be stifled. With the right training, educators can gain the skills needed to empower dyslexic students. Discover how AmericanUniversity's Online Master of Arts in Teaching prepares educators to create classrooms where all students can thrive.

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Teaching Strategies for Students with Dyslexia

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What is the definition of dyslexia? Explore teaching strategies for students with dyslexia that help teachers create accessible and inclusive classrooms.

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Dyslexia is a common learning disability that primarily affects a person’s ability to read, write, and spell. It stems from difficulties in processing language, particularly in recognizing how sounds relate to letters and words. While dyslexia does not reflect a person’s intelligence, it can make reading fluency and comprehension challenging. Symptoms often appear in early childhood, such as delayed speech, trouble learning letter names and sounds, or difficulty rhyming. As students grow older, signs may include slow reading, poor spelling, difficulty summarizing text, and challenges with written expression.

Although dyslexia is a lifelong condition, early identification and intervention can significantly improve a student’s academic success and self-esteem. Effective teaching strategies—such as multisensory instruction, assistive technology, and individualized accommodations—can help students access the curriculum and develop essential skills. Support from teachers, parents, and specialists is crucial in creating a positive learning environment where students with dyslexia feel understood, capable, and empowered to succeed.