WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?
When assessments are conducted the definition from Sir John Rose’s 2009 report on ‘identifying and Teaching Children and Young People with Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties’ and the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) definition are used.
DEFINITION OF DYSLEXIA -SIR JOHN ROSE 2009
-
Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed.
-
Dyslexia occurs across the range of intellectual abilities.
-
Co-occurring difficulties may be seen in aspects of language, motor co-ordination, mental calculation, concentration and personal organisation, but these are not, by themselves, markers of dyslexia.
-
A good indication of the severity and persistence of dyslexic difficulties can be gained by examining how the individual responds or has responded to well-founded intervention.
-
It is best thought of as a continuum, not a distinct category, and there are no clear cut-off points.
-
Some also have strengths in other areas, such as design, problem solving, creative skills, interactive skills and oral skills.
BDA addition
In addition to these characteristics, the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) acknowledges the visual and auditory processing difficulties that some individuals with dyslexia can experience and points out that dyslexic readers can show a combination of abilities and difficulties that affect the learning process.
