What's the difference between dyslexia and just being c**p at reading and why does it matter?

Question

Georgie: you seem to write perfectly well.

Answer 1

dyslexia is being significantly crappy at reading when you have normal cognitive skills.  There are those who have a tough time reading, but their problems aren't severe enough to meet the criteria for dyslexia.  It matters because the treatment is different for both.  You can be crappy at reading because 1. you don't want to do it or 2. you haven't been taught very well how to do it.  Treatment for this is to find stuff you like to read and get better instruction (or come to school more often if that's the problem).  

If you are truly dyslexic,  however, your brain works differently, and no matter how much you try, or how well you're taught using traditional methods, you still won't read well.  So you need a treatment that includes specialized education, and there are very specific (meaning expensive) methods available (linda mood bell, stevenson, earobics, etc.).  These programs would likely not work for kids who didn't have significant problems reading.

For the record, although dyslexia can impact other areas, it literally means 'trouble reading'.  Dysgraphia is the name for trouble writing, and Dyscalculia is the name for trouble in math.  Again, these areas need to be significantly below expectations given cognitive skills to be given these names.

Answer 2

My husband can read fairly well when he puts his mind to it, but he hates reading, unless it about something he is interested in, when he does read it can be haltingly, especially if he has not read for a while, where as our daughter and I are both dyslexic, and we have trouble reading.

This because our brain misinterprets what it sees, and makes its difficult to read letters, numbers and symbols, we also have problems with spelling and writing. The more we try to read the harder it can become, as we may start to feel nauseous and headache, from trying. However there are many things we dyslexics can do to learn to read and write.

Sadly many people seam to have the perception that dyslexics are illiterate, which is NOT true, in fact many dyslexics are very intelligent.

Also many people think we see things back to front, again NOT true, but we do mix up letters such as b's & d's etc, words such was, saw, and most frustratingly spelling words that have similar sounding words, but different meaning such flour and flower.

As you can see there is a whole lot of difference in dyslexia, and just being a crappy reader, in fact many people who say they are c**p at reading, can usually read very well, its just that they don't like to read, so they don't.

The last link will give you an idea of what is like to read for a dyslexic.

Edit;

I use a computer so of course I can write! And use the computer to read to me, if needed or change the page background, and coloured overlays to read in books, coloured paper for class handouts or notes. There is many things we can do to read and write.

I might also add that I could not read until the age of 14, and learnt to tell the time at 15, I failed high school. I had to take lower paid work, because of my poor reading & writing skills,. I was diagnosed as having dyslexia when my daughter was, and learnt as much as possible about dyslexia, and finding strategies to help my daughter, so she would not fail high school like I did. I even went back to school as a mature age student, to get my high school certificate, and then onto gain some qualifications, as a Youth & Disability support worker, with a special interest in learning disabilities, especially dyslexia. It has been very blinking hard at times, many tears etc to pass.

I refuse to let a learning disability hold me back, and I am proof that being dyslexic does not mean, illiterate and low paid employment.

Answer 3

my guess: if ur just bad at reading, practise will make you better.  but if you've got dyslexia, you find it difficult because of the way your brain is wired.

edit: everyone has been given thumbsdowns and no thumbsups!!

Answer 4

Hiya !

The short answer is:  Just 'being c**p at reading' is laziness whereas, Dyslexia is a recognised illness.

It matters because laziness is a deliberate state of mind.

Dyslexia can be mis-diagnosed leading to the sufferer being accused of 'just being lazy' when they cannot help their condition !

Hope this answered you question !

Answer 5

I am visuospatial dyslexic and dysgraphic.  I even type dyslexic and have to proof read several times to check the spelling.  I lose my place a lot.  I have to hold down the words and cover up all but 1 line.  Otherwise the words break apart and float around upside down like alphabet soup.  My eyes water and become really tired.  I have difficulty spelling even 4 letter words one that usually gives me trouble is said.  When I was a kid and first diagnosed I used to say the words are swimming again.  Vision therapy was too much work, the glasses with prisms (couldn't spell prisms without sp check) just made my eyes hurt and gives me headaches.  My handwriting is borderline illegible so much so that the grocery list I can't even interpret a couple of items each week.

Answer 6

My wife is dyslexic where she has major problems with reading, and dyscalculic and is seriously hopeless at maths, but she writes quite well, which I find odd. But she has a very high IQ, so as Georgie said many dyslexics are very intelligent, and can learn to read, if given the correct support networks.

Georgie well done on going back to school, it must have been very hard. But your living proof that despite having a learning disability, it can be done.

Answer 7

Dyslexia is a disorder of the brain that can effect reading, spelling, speech, memory, writing, and math....just to name a few of the problems one may encounter.  People with dyslexia typically have problems seeing letters correctly and manipulating sound.  Namely, the sounds letters make.  Being c**p in reading also typically points to reading difficulty.  Most times, when people say they do not like to read, it translates to reading is hard for me.....so they do not do it.  

With direct instruction, those with dyslexia can learn strategies that may, or may not, help them become better readers.  Dyslexia is something a person will have all their lives and there is no cure.  If, however, one is simply being lazy, the inability to read is easily overcome.

Answer 8

Dyslexia is a genetic inability to process visual speech.

Just being c**p at reading means that all the brain wires are hooked up, the current is just moving slow.

It matters because a good reading teacher will

1) not use fiction with dyslexics. They want nonfiction and books on tape.

2) Teach dyslexics survival reading skills

3) Push the daylights out of the c**p readers. They can get it, if they have their noses put to the grindstone.

   Unfortunatly telling who is who is very difficult.

Answer 9

its blue,the colour you need is definitely blue????????