Dyslexia

Why in news?

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities has conducted ‘Walk for Dyslexia’ (#GoRedforDyslexia Campaign) to conduct awareness about Dyslexia.

• Dyslexia is a learning disability that causes difficulties with reading, writing, and spelling due to problems processing written language.
• It is a brain-based disorder, not a sign of low intelligence, and symptoms can include slow reading, trouble with phonics, and mixing up letters or words.
• Many people with dyslexia are able to succeed with early intervention, accommodations, and support. 

Globally, Dyslexia affects 1 in every 5 individuals.

• Causes – The exact cause of dyslexia isn’t clear, but linked with
  • Dyslexia is highly genetic and runs in families
  • Differences in brain development and function
  • Disruptions in brain development and function
• Risk factors – Toxic exposures in the air and water, lack of access to reading material, learning environment limitations, etc.
• Symptoms – Difficulty in reading, writing, trouble sounding out new words, Mixing up the position of sounds in a word, etc.
• Severity varies, but the condition often becomes apparent as a child starts learning to read.
• Effects – Can lead to frustration, lower self-esteem, and less reading experience, which can impact vocabulary and background knowledge.
• Diagnosis – Dyslexia is diagnosed by a professional, such as a psychologist or reading specialist, through a series of tests that assess reading and other cognitive skills.
• Prevention – Dyslexia isn’t preventable, but it’s often manageable with different strategies for learning and reading.
• Treatment – Currently, no medications treat dyslexia, whereas, childhood diagnosis & early intervention help find what strategies work for an individual’s needs early on.

UDISE+ 2024–25 – Around 12.15% of all Children with Special Needs (CwSN) enrolled in schools have been reported to have Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) which may include children with Dyslexia.

Quick Fact

References

1. PIB | Walk for Dyslexia 2025
2. Cleveland Clinic | Dyslexia