Dyslexia

There is no way to diagnose dyslexia.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

There's no single test that can diagnose dyslexia. However, a number of factors are considered, such as the child's development, educational issues, and medical history.

Dyslexia is caused by a lack of phonics instruction.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Poor instruction does not cause dyslexia, but it can exacerbate reading difficulties experienced by children with dyslexia.

Every child who struggles with reading is dyslexic.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Having dyslexia does not mean that child isn't smart. With the right support, dyslexic kids can learn to read and do very well in school.

Dyslexia cannot be diagnosed until third grade.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Kids with dyslexia often show signs before they start school. They often have trouble learning even simple rhymes.

Developmental Dyslexia is hereditary and commonly runs in families.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Dyslexia is regarded as a neurobiological condition that is genetic in origin. This means that individuals can inherit this condition from a parent, and it affects the performance of the neurological system (specifically, the parts of the brain responsible for learning to read).

Dyslexia is not the result of neurological damage but the product of neurological development.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

While not the result of neurological damage, it is the product of neurological development. Dyslexia commonly runs in families and varies from mild to severe. Children don't outgrow dyslexia, and adults with dyslexia suffer emotionally and financially because of it.

Dyslexia can affect spoken language, written language, and language comprehension.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Individuals with dyslexia may also exhibit problems in language that extend to vocabulary and grammatical development. In fact, research shows that the inclusion of deficits in an oral language beyond the phonological component may place children at a higher risk for dyslexia.

Dyslexia is not an indicator of low intelligence.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Some teachers and parents can mistake a dyslexic child for someone who lacks intelligence. But the truth is dyslexia has nothing to do with a child's level of intelligence.

Dyslexia requires a medical diagnosis.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Although dyslexia is due to differences in the brain, no blood tests or lab screenings can detect it. Instead, careful evaluation (testing) of common signs identifies someone with this reading problem. Testing for dyslexia should look at: Decoding (reading unfamiliar words by sounding them out).

Individuals with high IQs cannot be dyslexic.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Dyslexia has nothing to do with a child's level of intelligence. In fact, many very intelligent people – like Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin group of companies, and Charles Schwab, who pioneered the discount stockbroking industry – are dyslexic and had trouble learning to read.