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What Is Mild Dyslexia?

H. Lo
H. Lo

Dyslexia is a learning disorder in which the brain is unable to process and understand certain information. Those with this disorder might have trouble reading, spelling, or writing, but they have normal intelligence. The definition of mild dyslexia is different from person to person, depending on each person’s specific learning disabilities. In general though, mild dyslexia refers to a form of the disorder that is not moderate or severe. That is, mild dyslexia might hinder a person’s ability to correctly read, spell, or write, but it might also be more manageable than that of a person who has moderate to severe dyslexia.

Dyslexia is the most common learning disorder among children, and is a lifelong condition. The disorder is an inherited one and arises through the brain’s inability to properly take words or images and interpret them into something comprehensible. Just as those affected by this disorder have normal, or above normal, intelligence, they also have normal hearing and vision as well. Although dyslexia might hinder a child’s progress in school, the child can still succeed through treatment. Some people might struggle throughout their childhood and not find out about their disorder until later, even into adulthood.

When working with a child with mild dyslexia, it's often helpful to treat reading as a game rather than a task.
When working with a child with mild dyslexia, it's often helpful to treat reading as a game rather than a task.

There are many signs and symptoms of dyslexia. Although it might be difficult to tell if a really young child has dyslexia, one factor in diagnosing the disorder is a looking at a person’s expected reading level. If a child has a delay in his or her reading ability, it might be a sign of dyslexia. Some early signs that a child might be at risk of dyslexia include difficulty with rhyming, learning how to talk later than normal, and learning new words at a slow pace. As the child grows, signs and symptoms of his or her disorder might be more obvious and can include difficulty reading, memorizing, and summarizing.

Reading aloud may help a child with mild dyslexia.
Reading aloud may help a child with mild dyslexia.

Whether a person has mild dyslexia, or a moderate or severe form of the disorder, treatment is available to help manage the condition. In general, treatment varies from person to person and involves educational plans that are ideally put together by the child’s parents and a teacher. The plan, which might include tutoring or taking special classes, might focus on building a vocabulary, reading aloud, and reading comprehension. Those with severe dyslexia might need more extensive help. When a person starts receiving treatment early in childhood, he or she has a better chance of not falling behind later in life.

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    • When working with a child with mild dyslexia, it's often helpful to treat reading as a game rather than a task.
      By: altanaka
      When working with a child with mild dyslexia, it's often helpful to treat reading as a game rather than a task.
    • Reading aloud may help a child with mild dyslexia.
      By: Konstantin Yuganov
      Reading aloud may help a child with mild dyslexia.
    • Tutoring can help children deal with mild dyslexia.
      By: xiaofoto
      Tutoring can help children deal with mild dyslexia.
    • As writing in cursive clumps the muscle memory of making letters into fewer movements, an individual with dyslexia may benefit from learning to write in cursive.
      By: mamastock
      As writing in cursive clumps the muscle memory of making letters into fewer movements, an individual with dyslexia may benefit from learning to write in cursive.
    • Children with mild dyslexia may have difficulty reading.
      By: georgemuresan
      Children with mild dyslexia may have difficulty reading.
    • Mild dyslexia may impact a person's reading comprehension.
      By: pathdoc
      Mild dyslexia may impact a person's reading comprehension.
    • Although boys and girls are equally likely to be dyslexic, boys are more likely to act out as a result of struggling with the condition.
      By: elisabetta figus
      Although boys and girls are equally likely to be dyslexic, boys are more likely to act out as a result of struggling with the condition.