What does it mean?
Dyslexia literally means "difficulty with words". It affects one in ten of us, some more than others, and famous dyslexics include Jamie Oliver and Richard Branson.
If we have dyslexia:
- We often have difficulty with reading, writing and spelling. It takes us longer to do these things. We have to try harder.
- We may be better at talking than we are at writing.
- We learn best by being "hands on” and trying things out.
- We are often very good at other stuff; like art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building, or engineering.
- We may get fed up at school as we often fall behind in some subjects. Or get told we're not trying. Or get put on the slow table.
Why does it happen?
Being dyslexic doesn't mean we're thick. We may score very highly on IQ tests. It has nothing to do with intelligence. Dyslexia often runs in families. It may be in our genes.
How do I know if I have dyslexia?
If you think you have dyslexia, speak to your teacher. Every school should have a special needs coordinator who could test you for dyslexia, or arrange an educational specialist to do this.
How is dyslexia treated?
If we have dyslexia we should receive educational support. This support aims to help overcome the problems dyslexia brings. So that we can maximise your potential.
Further help and advice
http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
http://www.dyslexia.uk.com/
Written by Dr Melissa Sayer
Last updated 17th June 2007
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kt, 16
my mum has dyslexia and i have to help her to read letters and write stuff but i dont mind as long as im helping her.
chris, 14
i was diagnosed with dyslexia when i was 7 so every english lesson i was takin into a teachers office and had a "one-2-one" lesson with them,and after 4 yrs i was let back into my english lessons,im still in bottom set but at least im in the sets
Joanne, 13
i was digonosed with dyslexia when i was 5 and my primary skool teachers would help me until in primary seven when one teacher decided that i was in the lowest reading group and maths group so i should be in the lowest history group 2 i was good at history but after primary skool when i was in first year my mother made it clear i suffered from dyslexia to the skool but in my class(which was the highest class)there is a deaf girl and she is given all the attention and all the help and if one other person asks for help they r told to jus get a dictonary and to stop being so selfish when this deaf girl needs the help but if she needs so much help then y is she in a main stream skool any way u c my best friend and i are both dyslexia but when we ask for some help we r denied it and the skool act as if so wat . i am in the smartest class in the year and i usally only fail 2 subjects a year everything else i get As so its not like im stupid i jus need help from time time
Charlotte, 15
Hi, I was diagnosed with dyslexia at 6 years old. In primary school, I was labelled naughty, disobedient and thick. The main reason was because no one really understood what dyslexia was so no one understood why I learned so differently from the others.I moved up my secondary school knowing how I wanted to prove to the other teachers that I can learn, and I was not a thick looser. So I tried my hardest to do well and after a lot of hard work and tears I am finally taking my GCSE’S. Already I have achieved my English language and geography a year early. The rest are yet to come latter on this year.Next year I am hoping to go to college and study a levels in Fine art, English, ICT and I am still yet to decide my forth.But what drove me to try as hard and to get my GCSE’S, was so that now I can go back and say yes hear I am the one you labelled and look how wrong you got me. The main reason I am writing is because, I want to let all the people know who are in my position, don’t give up, don’t stick with that label, because being dyslexic does not mean you are thick.
jake, 15
hi i just turned 15 and when i was 11 i was diagnosed with dyslexia but my iQ at 11 was 120 top 5% for that age now i am aspiering to become a doctor
charlotte, 16
i have dyslexia with numbers.. it has a name but i cant remember it.. i failed my mock gcse in maths because of it and then when i finally told my maths teacher he gave me the help i needed and passed my actual exam.
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