Dyslexia Myths
Dyslexia cannot be diagnosed until 3rd grade.
A combination of family history of dyslexia and symptoms of difficulties in spoken language can help identify a vulnerable child even before he/she begs formal schooling. Professionals with extensive training in diagnosis can accurately identify the precursors to developing dyslexia as early as age 5. A definitive diagnosis could be made as soon as the child begins to struggle with learning to read, spell, and write.
Children with dyslexia see words and letters backwards.
Dyslexia is not a vision problem. Dyslexia is a neurological problem affecting how people link the shapes of printed letters with the sounds of spoken language - not because they have problems with visual perception or memory. Dyslexia is a lifelong condition, but early intervention to address the core difficulties can substantially improve children's reading ability.
Individuals with dyslexia only struggle with reading.
Often spelling and handwriting are poor as this is matching the same spoken word to print. Math can be difficult as well. Learning a foreign language will be extremely difficult for students dyslexia.
Dyslexia is more common among boys.
A 1990 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association by Drs. Sally and Bennett Shawitz found that dyslexia affects comparable number of boys and girls. More boys are referred by their teachers for evaluation, but this appears to be a reflection of their rambunctious behavior in the classroom. More research from the Yale Center for Dyslexia.
Smart people cannot be dyslexic.
Dyslexia and intelligence are NOT connected. Many dyslexic individuals are very bright and creative, and have accomplished amazing things as adults. Dyslexia is defined as an "unexpected" difficulty to read, in someone who otherwise has the intelligence to be a much better reader.