A dyslexic child is one who has difficulty reading and writing.

This difficulty is not due to a lack of intelligence. Experts think that people who suffer from dyslexia just use their skills differently.

This other way of functioning slows them down and they make mistakes when they’re learning to read.

But is dyslexia a big problem?

Dyslexia is one of many disabilities beginning with DYS.

Dyscalculia, for example, affects children who cannot do calculations.

Dyspraxia, affects those who have difficulty coordinating movement and are often called clumsy.

Or dysorthographia; those who have difficulty learning spelling rules and who make lots of spelling mistakes.

However, we mustn’t confuse DYS disabilities with learning difficulties that any child may encounter at school.

DYS children try hard but their difficulties remain. Their handicaps don’t just disappear…

… But people can live with them by finding ways to get round the problems.

After 2 to 4 years of speech therapy, DYS children can learn to overcome the problems caused by their disability.

It’s very important that a health care specialist identify these problems early. Otherwise, DYS children are often in difficulty at school without knowing why.