What is dyslexia? Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction.

How widespread is dyslexia? About 5% of the school population nationwide has a learning disability in reading that qualifies them for special education. Many more people – as many as 15-20% of the population as a whole – have some of the symptoms of dyslexia.