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Dyslexia
(Learning Disorders: Reading)

Reading Skill Overview

Reading is a complicated process, involving recognition of symbols of language in a printed form. It is not an innate skill, but rather must be learned. Written words bear no meaning until the reader constructs meaning by making inferences and interpretations.

Acquisition of reading skills is closely tied to development of language in children. The ability to break down words into individual sounds or phonemes, is the core skill that needs to be mastered in order to be a fluent reader. This is called "phonemic awareness." For example, in reading the word "CAT," one must be aware of its component graphemes, and then break it down into the phonemes C/Ah/T. Then one must blend the phonemes back into the spoken word "CAT" which is then produced. This process is called "decoding." It sounds complicated, and it is. Yet most children with access to instruction and in the absence of sensory or other neurological deficits master this skill easily.

But for about 10-15% of children, this basic process is impaired often leading to lifelong struggles with reading. These are individuals with the learning disability called "Reading Disorder." It is also popularly known as dyslexia.



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Dyslexia (Reading Disorder)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder »

ADHD Overview

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) refers to a chronic disorder that initially manifests in childhood and is characterized by problems with hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention. Not all patients manifest all three behavioral categories. These symptoms have been associated with difficulty in academic, emotional, and social functioning. The diagnosis is established by satisfying specific criteria, and the condition may be associated with other neurological, significant behavioral, and/or developmental/learning disabilities. Therapy may consider the use of medication, behavioral therapy, and adjustments in day-to-day lifestyle activities. ADHD is thus one of the most common disorders of childhood. ADHD occurs two to four times more commonly in boys than girls (male to female ratio 4:1 for the predominantly hyperactive type versus 2:1 for the predominantly inattentive type). While previously believed to be "outgrown" by adulthood, c...

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Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine

Learning Disorder: Reading »

The first description of a specific reading disability was an 1896 case study in the British medical literature of a "bright and intelligent boy" who had great difficulty learning to read.

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