MBarq
Dyslexia is the most well-known reading disorder. It specifically impairs a person’s ability to read. Individuals with dyslexia have normal intelligence, but they read at levels significantly lower than expected. Although the disorder varies from person to person, there are common characteristics: People with dyslexia often have a hard time sounding out words, understanding written words, and naming objects quickly.
Most reading problems are present from the time a child learns to read. But some people lose the ability to read after a stroke or an injury to the area of the brain involved with reading. This kind of reading disorder is called alexia.
Hyperlexia is a disorder where people have advanced reading skills but may have problems understanding what is read or spoken aloud. They may also have cognitive or social problems.
Other people may have normal reading skills but have problems understanding written words.
Reading disorders can also involve problems with specific skills:
- Word decoding. People who have difficulty sounding out written words struggle to match letters to their proper sounds.
- Fluency. People who lack fluency have difficulty reading quickly, accurately, and with proper expression (if reading aloud).
- Poor reading comprehension. People with poor reading comprehension have trouble understanding what they read.
