Dyslexia is a disorder which affects the acquisition of literacy skills. Arithmetic may also be affected. Dyslexia can also be called a specific learning difficulty, a learning disability, a learning disorder.
Research shows that in a significant number of cases, there is an hereditary component.
The disorder itself is thought to be caused by irregularities in the way in which the brain processes information. It is recognised by a discrepancy between apparent intelligence, and ability to read, spell, write and do arithmetic. It can only be diagnosed by a psychological assessment, which is undertaken by a registered psychologist, with training and expertise in the area. Broadly speaking there are two main types, although many dyslexics have a mixed profile. A smaller group of dyslexics seem to have visual problems, where they find it difficult to remember the appearance of words, or get confused about the sequence.