Dyslexia Myths

You have a better chance of being dyslexic than being left handed.

• Myth

• Fact

Answer explanation

FACT: You have a better chance of being dyslexic than being left handed.

10% of the population is left handed.

20% of the population is dyslexic.

Dyslexia affects 1 in 5 people, according to 25+ years of research by the National Institutes of Health and studies at Yale University. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that dyslexia is the most common learning disability accounting for 80% of all learning disabilities.

Dyslexia could be prevented if parents read to their kids more, or if teachers taught more phonics.

• Myth

• Fact

Answer explanation

MYTH: Dyslexia could be prevented if parents read to their kids more, or if teachers taught more phonics.

Dyslexia is caused by an inherited brain difference, not by something a parent or teacher fails to do. If a parent has dyslexia, there is a 40-50% chance their parent, sibling, or child also has it.

The dyslexic brain is very different from the non-dyslexic brain, and this has been documented by years of fMRI research. The dyslexic brain is organized differently. This is why reading, writing and spelling are so difficult for people with dyslexia. Dyslexia is considered a brain difference, not a defect.

People with dyslexia often have co-occurring learning differences.

• Myth

• Fact

Answer explanation

FACT: People with dyslexia often have co-occurring learning differences.

It is quite common for someone with dyslexia to also have another learning disability, with studies indicating that around 50-60% of individuals diagnosed with dyslexia also present with another learning disability, most commonly ADHD.

ADHA

• Dyscalculia

• Dysgraphia

• Written expression disorder

• Executive function challenges

• Anxiety

• Depression

Boys are more likely to have dyslexia than girls.

• Myth

• Fact

Answer explanation

MYTH: Boys are more likely to have dyslexia than girls.

A 1990 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association by Drs. Sally and Bennett Shaywitz found that dyslexia affects comparable numbers of boys and girls. More boys are referred by their teachers for evaluation, but this appears to reflect the more rambunctious behavior of boys in the classroom.

People with dyslexia see things backwards.

• Myth

• Fact

Answer explanation

MYTH: People with dyslexia see things backwards.

People with dyslexia see things just like everyone else. Dyslexia is not a visual issue, but a language processing and decoding.

They do not see ‘was’ as ‘saw’ for example. They may have trouble with directionality, and often have difficulty finding the right names for things.

Although people with dyslexia may write letters and numbers backwards, not all do, and this is considered normal through the end of first grade. Dyslexics actually have trouble processing and manipulating the sounds of language.

Dyslexia doesn’t show up until elementary school.

• Myth

• Fact

Answer explanation

MYTH: Dyslexia doesn’t show up until elementary school.

Fact: Signs of dyslexia can show up in preschool, or even earlier. That’s because dyslexia can affect language skills that are essential skills for reading. Some signs that a preschooler may be at risk for dyslexia include difficulty rhyming and being a “late talker.”

How many sounds (phonemes) are in the English Language?

• 26

• 44

• 100

• 250

Answer explanation

How many sounds (phonemes) are in the English Language?

A phoneme is a speech sound. It’s the smallest unit of sound that distinguishes one word from another. Since sounds cannot be written, we use letters to represent or stand for the sounds. A grapheme is the written representation (a letter or cluster of letters) of one sound. 

It is generally agreed that there are approximately 44 sounds in English, with some variation dependent on accent and articulation. The 44 English phonemes are represented by the 26 letters of the alphabet individually and in combination.

How many ways are there to make the long vowel sound /e/?

• 1

• 4

• 8

• I have no idea!

Answer explanation

8!

e (me)

e-e (Pete)

y (happy)

ea (read)

ee (feet) 

ie (field)

ei (either)

ey (monkey)

Smart people cannot be diagnosed with dyslexia.

• Myth

• Fact

Answer explanation

MYTH: Smart people cannot be diagnosed with dyslexia.

NASA actively recruits people with dyslexia because of their unique skills, which can be valuable in space exploration and engineering.

Strengths:

• Problem-solving 

• Spatial awareness. 

• Big-picture thinking

• Analytical thinking

• Unconventional thinking

• Adaptability

• Persuasive communication

When treated with the right medication, dyslexia can be cured.

• Myth

• Fact

Answer explanation

MYTH: When treated with the right medication, dyslexia can be cured.

There are no medications for dyslexia. But special instruction can help people with dyslexia improve reading, spelling, and writing skills. 

A widely used approach is called Orton–Gillingham (OG). It’s highly structured, meaning that reading skills are taught in a direct way and in a logical order. (You might hear it called structured literacy.)

OG also involves multi-sensory instruction. It engages people’s senses and gives them more than one way to connect with what they’re learning.

Proper dyslexia instruction doesn’t just improve skills. Research has shown that it can actually change how the brain functions, creating the pathways needed for reading.4

The earlier people get specialized instruction, the better. But it’s never too late to get help to become a more fluent reader. Some private reading specialists work with adults, using approaches that are similar to the ones they use with kids.