What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia and how we can help

Sir Jim Rose’s Report on ‘Identifying and Teaching Children and Young People with Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties’ in 2009 gave the following description of dyslexia which many people now accept:
‘Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling.

Characteristics of Dyslexia

Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed.
Dyslexia occurs across the range of intellectual abilities.
It is best thought of as a continuum, not a distinct category, and there are no clear cut-off points.

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.

The Indications

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.’

The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) has adopted the Rose Report description, but also acknowledges the visual and auditory processing difficulties that some individuals with dyslexia can experience, and points out that dyslexic readers can show a combination of abilities and difficulties that affect the learning process. Some also have strengths in other areas, such as design, problem-solving, creative skills, interactive skills and oral skills.

What are the signs of dyslexia in different phases?

Developmental phase

Signs of Dyslexia

Adolescence and adulthood

  • Poor reading fluency and/or poor reading comprehension / reluctant reader
  • Difficulty remembering instructions, telephone numbers etc.
  • The slow speed of writing
  • Has good and bad days.
  • Difficulties with spelling compared to peers
  • Poor organisation and expression in work
  • Difficulties remembering tasks to be done/handing them in on time.
  • Has low self-esteem/behavioural difficulties
  • Has difficulty finishing work
  • The discrepancy between oral and written ability.

Long term outcomes depend on the extent and quality of support provided to the learner.

Pre-school

  • Speech and language difficulties
  • Difficulty with rhyming skills/ nursery rhymes and word games
  • Appear to be clumsy/accident-prone

Primary school years

  • Difficulty:
    • learning letters
    • hearing the sounds in words, rhyme etc.
    • getting off the starting blocks with reading
    • pronouncing words, especially longer words/ language delay/difficulties finding the right word to use
    • with spelling
  • Problems copying
  • Slow reading/poor decoding and/or poor comprehension
  • Difficulty sequencing stories, learning times tables
  • Left/right confusion
  • Organisation difficulties
  • Difficulties remembering instructions
  • Has good and bad days
  • Does not finish work
  • Long term outcomes depend on the extent and quality of support provided to the learner.
pre-school dyslexia training

Understanding the challenges learners with dyslexia face is the first step towards helping you achieve your goals related to dyslexia. Join our courses and be part of our mission to make the changes people with dyslexia need.

Dyslexia Support

Did you know that 10% of children and adults have dyslexia?

They don’t have to struggle alone. Help is at hand.

We can help with:

  • Understanding dyslexia – the signs, symptoms and issues
  • Assessments for children – this will help you understand why your child might be struggling at school and identify any special arrangements needed for exams
  • Assessments for adults – this will ensure that you have the support you need to succeed at work. We can help you make sure your employer gives you the right working environment, training and support at work.
  • Recommendations – these reflect the needs of each individual and provide clear practical next steps to support and facilitate progress, whether through resources, strategies, tuition or technology.

Bespoke Training Programmes for Employees and Employers

We are a friendly, caring, approachable team of current practitioners, and our mission is to help people with specific learning differences and those who work with them.

When you train with us you will experience a warm and supportive learning environment and receive generous assessor input while gaining up to date, practical hands-on knowledge and access to online resources placing you at the cutting edge of Dyslexia.

We offer a range of bespoke training programmes. We have provided training for the Fire Service, the Civil Service, Job Centres  Police Force, housing associations and educational establishments both nationally and internationally.

If you would like to know more about what we are able to provide, please visit our workplace training page:

Workplace Training