“I would wholeheartedly recommend Juliet to anyone wishing to have an assessment for Dyslexia" JB, a parent
What is Dyslexia?
‘Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which primarily affects reading and writing skills. However, it does not only affect these skills. Dyslexia is actually about information processing. Dyslexic people may have difficulty processing and remembering information they see and hear, which can affect learning and the acquisition of literacy skills. Dyslexia can also impact on other areas such as organisational skills.’
‘Dyslexia is a neurological difference and can have a significant impact during education, in the workplace and in everyday life. As each person is unique, so is everyone's experience of dyslexia. It can range from mild to severe, and it can co-occur with other specific learning difficulties. It usually runs in families and is a life-long condition.’
'It is important to remember that there are positives to thinking differently. Many dyslexic people show strengths in areas such as reasoning and in visual and creative fields. '
[above information quoted from The British Dyslexia Association website]
“It is a specific learning difficulty because it only impacts particular aspects of learning and is not connected to intellectual ability. Some people prefer to use the term Specific Learning Difference.”
Here is a useful video for children - it's called ‘See Dyslexia Differently’:
Definitions of Dyslexia:
A new definition of Dyslexia, The Delphi Definition, has been developed, and was published 25th February 2025. Organisations such as the British Dyslexia Association have adopted it and you can read it here.
What signs may there be that my child/young person may have Dyslexia?
Here is some information from the BDA on signs of Dyslexia that might be evident at different stages of education:
Early Years: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/children/is-my-child-dyslexic/signs-of-dyslexia-early-years
Primary: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/children/is-my-child-dyslexic/signs-of-dyslexia-primary-age
Definition of Dyslexia
The BDA has adopted the Delphi (2025) definition of dyslexia:
Delphi definition of dyslexia
Dyslexia is a set of processing difficulties that affect the acquisition of reading and spelling.
In dyslexia, some or all aspects of literacy attainment are weak in relation to age, standard teaching and instruction, and level of other attainments.
Across all languages, difficulties in reading fluency and spelling are key markers of dyslexia.
Dyslexic difficulties exist on a continuum and can be experienced to various degrees of severity.
The nature and developmental trajectory of dyslexia depends on multiple genetic and environmental influences.
Dyslexia can affect the acquisition of other skills, such as mathematics, reading comprehension or learning another language.
The most commonly observed cognitive impairment in dyslexia is a difficulty in phonological processing (i.e., in phonological awareness, phonological processing speed or phonological memory). However, phonological difficulties do not fully explain the variability that is observed.
Working memory, processing speed and orthographic skills can contribute to the impact of dyslexia.
Dyslexia frequently co-occurs with one or more other developmental difficulties, including developmental language disorder, dyscalculia, ADHD, and developmental coordination disorder.
