Dyslexia- different types / degrees of severity?

Question

I was diagnosed with dyslexia a couple of years ago, after years of under performing at school. Later i was sent to a specialist optometrist who told me my dyslexia was due to me being 'ypsilateral' and prescribed glasses.

I have met quite a few people who say they are dyslexic, some i can identify with. Others seem to have either symptoms that are extremely different to mine. Quite a lot of dyslexics only seem to have a mild problem, it doesn't seem to affect them at all really.

I am confused, does 'dyslexia' refer to a single condition that varies in severity or is it a general term for any condition that affects your reading and writing?

Answer 1

Here read this it  may help http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyslexia

But dyslexic can not just affect your reading and writing but also  language.  

Answer 2

There are different levels of severity with dyslexics and can be in combination with other learning difficulties..

Dyslexia is a kind of mind. Very often it is a gifted mind, but it is a mind that is physiologically different. This brain difference is not a defect, but it makes learning language excessively hard.

The dyslexic mind may have tremendous musical ability that allows a child to sing or play an instrument easily or at an early age. The child with a dyslexic mind may be able to build whole cities with tiny interlocking blocks and no directions, or solve three-dimensional puzzles without difficulty. Many of our most gifted athletes have dyslexic minds that can "see" the entire field of play and the relative position of all the players simultaneously.

The dyslexic mind needs more help in sorting, recognizing, and organizing the raw materials of language for reading and spelling.

Some websites which will give you all the information  you need.

Answer 3

It's kind of a catch-all term that can refer to a number of different things.  Some people see the page as too bright and need glasses with a coating on them (www.irlen.com), while others see the letters as rotating: u becomes n, b is seen as d.  Some people have bad handwriting, others don't.  And some have mild cases, while it's severe with others.

If reading is still tough for you, you should try Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic: www.rfbd.org.  They're very helpful.

Answer 4

I think that Dyslexic symptoms can vary in severity, although I have to say that those with milder symptoms perhaps should more likely be diagnosed with Specific Learning Difficulties, which is more of a blanket term used these days to denote many people whose problems appear to be milder. Many people diagnosed initially with Dyslexia have had specialist tuition or have been able to compensate somewhat for their weaknesses, which may lead others to presume that they have it to a lesser extent. There are additionally other cases of people who are signified as having Dyslexia but also have other combination difficulties such as: Dyspraxia (DCD), AD/HD, language processing or mild Autistic Spectrum disorders etc which are not noticed or diagnosed at the assessment stage, these people will appear more severe than the average individuals who just have straight forward Dyslexia.