Dyslexia

Dyslexia is one of the most widely known learning differences, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. At its core, dyslexia affects how the brain processes language, especially written words. It doesn’t mean someone isn’t intelligent—many people with dyslexia are incredibly creative, great at problem-solving, or have strengths in areas like art, engineering, and storytelling. What makes reading difficult is that their brain interprets letters and sounds differently, which slows down how quickly they can read or spell.

How to recognize it: A teenager with dyslexia might read much slower than their classmates, guess words rather than sounding them out, or mix up similar-looking letters like b/d or p/q. They may avoid reading out loud in class because it feels embarrassing or even painful. In writing, spelling errors may seem random and inconsistent, like writing “frend” instead of “friend” one day and “frnd” the next. In younger children, signs can include trouble learning nursery rhymes, difficulty remembering the alphabet, or delayed speech development.

Real-life example: Imagine being asked to read a passage in English class. Everyone else reads smoothly, but for you, every word is a hurdle. You know the story makes sense when someone else reads it aloud, but on paper it looks like a puzzle with missing pieces. After a while, frustration can turn into avoidance—“I hate reading” becomes a shield for “This feels impossible.”

How it affects learning: Dyslexia mainly shows up in subjects that rely heavily on reading and writing, like English, history, or exams with long written answers. But it can also impact math if word problems are involved. The effort it takes to decode text can make a student tired faster than their peers, leaving less energy for understanding the bigger picture.

Best learning strategies: Multisensory methods are key. That means engaging sight, sound, and movement together. For example, writing letters in sand while saying their sounds out loud, or clapping out syllables of words. Technology helps too: text-to-speech software can read out textbooks, and audiobooks can make literature accessible without the reading barrier. Voice typing tools allow students to get their ideas onto the page without struggling with spelling. Color overlays and large-font texts can reduce visual stress. Most importantly, extra time on exams and assignments gives space to process information at their own pace.