Experts tell us that perhaps 1 out of every 10 adults suffers from some type of dyslexia. Probably 95% of these are unaware that their differences, their problems with reading and manipulation of numbers,letters and words are caused by dyslexia.

When identified, these dyslexics can be helped and taught to overcome their difficulties. They can lead normal, even exemplary lives, achieving their full potentials. So how do you identify people who may suffer from dyslexia? What are the indications, the symptoms? This article explains. Read on...

Dyslexia is a neurological condition that manifests itself as a learning disability. This disability varies widely but is generally characterized by difficulties in spelling, sounding out and recognizing words.

Dyslexia is widely misunderstood. Dyslexics are not stupid, they just have information-processing differences and difficulties. Nevertheless they are often characterized as slow learners, put in special education classes and stigmatized rather than helped to overcome their challenges.

Once identified, dyslexics can be helped to overcome their difficulties, perform at acceptable levels and lead normal, productive (often super-productive) lives. But the social stigmatization for being "different" causes most dyslexics to be ashamed of their differences and try to hide them.

This makes identification and diagnosis of dyslexia more difficult. Here are some of the prominent dyslexia symptoms that may indicate underlying dyslexia:

A school-age child with dyslexia might exhibit any of the following dyslexia symptoms:

-- Avoid reading or complain about the difficulty of reading.

-- Display strengths in higher-level thinking skills, such as curiosity and imagination.

-- Mispronounce complicated or unfamiliar words.

-- Leave out parts of words or confuse the order of parts. For example, "aluminum" could become "amulium."

-- Pause, hesitate, often say "um", "uh" or "ah" when speaking.

-- Use vague words, such as "stuff" and "things," instead of proper names.

-- Confuse words that sound alike, such as "tornado" for "volcano" and "lotion" for "ocean."

-- Need more time to form verbal responses.

-- Have trouble remembering isolated pieces of verbal information, such as dates, names and lists.

-- Make slow progress in acquiring reading skills.

-- Guess or make "wild stabs" at words when reading.

-- Rely heavily on context to read.

-- Fear, dread or resist reading aloud.

-- Mispronounce and substitute words when reading aloud.

-- Perform disproportionately worse on multiple-choice tests than on other types.

-- Spell or write poorly.

[Source of the above list: "Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level," by Sally Shaywitz]

Most elementary schools now screen for dyslexia, looking for dyslexia symptoms to identify possible dyslexics as early as possible. This is a relatively recent practice. Adults who finished elementary school more than 15 years ago may have never been screened. In fact, 95% of adult dyslexics are unaware of their condition.

Most have developed protective mechanisms, sometimes elaborate ones, to hide their disabilities. An adult dyslexic might exhibit these types of behavior, which are frequent dyslexia symptoms:

-- Avoid jobs where reading and writing is involved. They might be found employed in positions way below what their intelligence would indicate they should be qualified for.

-- Avoid reading, especially reading aloud.

-- Feign common problems with eyesight ("...didn't bring my glasses.") or other excuses for not reading.

-- Avoid newspapers and magazines in favor of television, movies or other graphic media.

-- Have difficulty in transcribing telephone numbers or messages received over the phone.

The presence of any of these dyslexia symptoms does not prove that the person is dyslexic, but it does indicate the possibility. If there is any doubt, if the dyslexia symptoms are strong and repetitious enough, the person should undergo a full dyslexia test. For adults this can be done online in half an hour.

Once diagnosed, dyslexics can be taught how to overcome almost all of the problems they might have. With the proper training dyslexics can overcome their dyslexia symptoms and lead normal, productive lives, living up to and achieving their full potentials.

For more information on dyslexia symptoms and testing, follow the links below...