Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSubcategoriesDiagnosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Subcategories
Diagnosis
Coping
There are two different types ofdyslexia: developmental and acquired. The condition is further subcategorized based on symptoms, such as trouble breaking words down into individual sounds or difficulty recognizing familiar printed words.
Dyslexia is a learning disability (LD) that affects a person’s ability to read.A person with dyslexia might also have trouble with other language skills, such as writing, spelling, and pronouncing words.
Read on to learn more about the types and subcategories of dyslexia.
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Types of Dyslexia
There are no medically official “types” of dyslexia. Instead, all types fall under the larger category of dyslexia. However, the types allow educators to proceed with individualized plans to improve someone’s reading fluency most effectively.
Under the umbrella category of dyslexia, researchers have identified different types based on the cause.
Developmental
Developmental dyslexia is present from birth. This type includes primary and secondary dyslexia.
Acquired
Acquired dyslexia, also known as trauma dyslexia or alexia, appears in childhood or adulthood as the result of an injury or illness. This could be brain trauma,stroke(brain injury due to a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain), ordementia(a progressive decline in memory, thinking ability, and behavior).
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Dyslexia and IntelligenceDyslexia, also known as reading disorder, is a language-based learning disability that affects a person’s ability to read. Most people with dyslexia have average or above-average intelligence, so their difficulties with reading are unexpected.
Dyslexia and Intelligence
Dyslexia, also known as reading disorder, is a language-based learning disability that affects a person’s ability to read. Most people with dyslexia have average or above-average intelligence, so their difficulties with reading are unexpected.
Subcategories of Dyslexia
In addition to the main types of dyslexia based on cause, researchers and educators often refer to subcategories of dyslexia based on how they are experienced:phonological, surface, rapid naming, double deficit, visual, and deep. Each of these subcategories is associated with a specific cluster of dyslexia symptoms.
Phonological
Phonological dyslexia affects a person’s phonemic awareness, which is their ability to break words down into individual sounds. People with this kind of dyslexia can often process and understand whole words, but not the individual sounds that make them up. They have trouble decoding and sounding out words.
Surface
People with surface dyslexia have trouble recognizing familiar words on the page and matching printed words to their sounds.This makes it hard for them to memorize and remember words, even ones they’ve already learned.
Rapid Naming
If someone has trouble naming letters, colors, and numbers quickly, they might have rapid naming deficit dyslexia.This type of dyslexia involves difficulties both with reading pace and language processing.
Dyslexia and Specific Learning DisabilitiesUnder theIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act(IDEA), dyslexia is categorized as a specific learning disability (SLD). Other specific learning disabilities include dysgraphia (impaired letter-writing) anddyscalculia(difficulties with math).
Dyslexia and Specific Learning Disabilities
Under theIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act(IDEA), dyslexia is categorized as a specific learning disability (SLD). Other specific learning disabilities include dysgraphia (impaired letter-writing) anddyscalculia(difficulties with math).
Double Deficit
People with double deficit dyslexia have issues in two different areas of reading, such as rapid naming and phonological awareness.
Visual
Deep
Deep dyslexia is a form of acquired dyslexia that results from trauma to the brain’s left hemisphere.This type of dyslexia affects someone’s ability to sound out nonsense words. It also involves semantic errors—substituting one word for a related one while reading (think “avenue” for “road” or “feline” for “cat”).
According to the International Dyslexia Association, dyslexia is the most common learning disability and the most common reason for difficulties in reading, writing, and spelling.It’s estimated that 5% to 10% of the population has dyslexia, although some estimates are as high as 17%.
Diagnosing Dyslexia
While symptoms of dyslexia can affect someone at any time, it’s usually diagnosed in childhood. There’s no single standardized test for dyslexia. Instead, after ruling out other possible causes for reading difficulties (such as hearing or vision problems), your healthcare provider can make a referral to apsychologistfor an assessment.
In addition to prior evaluation reports, school reports, and family history, a psychologist will evaluate you or your child for the following symptoms of dyslexia:
The assessment will include the results of the evaluation, as well as suggestions for improving reading ability at home and school.
Can You Self-Test For Dyslexia?
However, if you or your child has trouble with reading, it’s best to tell your healthcare provider right away. They can give you a referral to a psychologist or any other specialist who can assess the possibility of dyslexia or any other health condition.
How to Cope With Dyslexia
After learning that your child has dyslexia, it’s important to address the problem as early as possible. While people can learn to read at any age, early intervention—ideally in kindergarten or first grade—has the best prognosis.
Work with your child’s school to devise a plan to help them learn to read fluently. At home, consider seeking out a reading tutor for more structured reading practice.
Here are some of the ways you can help your child learn to read if they have dyslexia:
Is There a Cure for Dyslexia?There’s no cure for dyslexia. However, with early intervention and a solid support system, most people with dyslexia can learn to read fluently.
Is There a Cure for Dyslexia?
There’s no cure for dyslexia. However, with early intervention and a solid support system, most people with dyslexia can learn to read fluently.
Summary
Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects a person’s ability to read. Someone with dyslexia may also have trouble spelling, writing, and pronouncing words. The main types of dyslexia based on the cause are developmental and acquired.
Developmental dyslexia is present at birth. Acquired dyslexia occurs after injury or illness, such as stroke, brain trauma, or dementia. Subcategories of dyslexia include phonological, surface, double deficit, visual, deep, and rapid naming deficit.
Symptoms of dyslexia often appear during early childhood. People with dyslexia can learn to read, write, and spell using structured literacy instruction and at-home reading exercises. An IEP may be developed for children with dyslexia to improve their performance at school.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Dyslexia.University of Michigan Dyslexia Help.Frequently asked questions.Gialluisi A, Andlauer TFM, Mirza-Schreiber N, et al.Genome-wide association study reveals new insights into the heritability and genetic correlates of developmental dyslexia.Mol Psychiatry. 2021;26(7):3004-3017. doi:10.1038/s41380-020-00898-xNeuroHealth.Types of dyslexia.Cistola G, Farrús M, van der Meulen I.Aphasia and acquired reading impairments: What are the high-tech alternatives to compensate for reading deficits?Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2021;56(1):161-173. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12569Yale Dyslexia.What is dyslexia?Provazza S, Adams AM, Giofrè D, Roberts DJ.Double trouble: visual and phonological impairments in English dyslexic readers.Front Psychol. 2019;10:2725. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02725Zoccolotti P, De Luca M, Marinelli CV.Interpreting developmental surface dyslexia within a comorbidity perspective.Brain Sci. 2021;11(12):1568. doi:10.3390/brainsci11121568Norton ES, Black JM, Stanley LM, et al.Functional neuroanatomical evidence for the double-deficit hypothesis of developmental dyslexia.Neuropsychologia. 2014;61:235-246. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.06.015National Center on Learning Disabilities.5 questions parents and educators can ask to start conversations about using terms like learning disabilities, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.American Psychological Association.Deep dyslexia.International Dyslexia Association.Frequently asked questions.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of reading disorders?International Dyslexia Association.Do I have dyslexia?Sanfilippo J, Ness M, Petscher Y, Rappaport L, Zuckerman B, Gaab N.Reintroducing dyslexia: Early identification and implications for pediatric practice.Pediatrics. 2020;146(1):e20193046. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-3046Reading Rockets.Structured literacy instruction: the basics.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Dyslexia.University of Michigan Dyslexia Help.Frequently asked questions.Gialluisi A, Andlauer TFM, Mirza-Schreiber N, et al.Genome-wide association study reveals new insights into the heritability and genetic correlates of developmental dyslexia.Mol Psychiatry. 2021;26(7):3004-3017. doi:10.1038/s41380-020-00898-xNeuroHealth.Types of dyslexia.Cistola G, Farrús M, van der Meulen I.Aphasia and acquired reading impairments: What are the high-tech alternatives to compensate for reading deficits?Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2021;56(1):161-173. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12569Yale Dyslexia.What is dyslexia?Provazza S, Adams AM, Giofrè D, Roberts DJ.Double trouble: visual and phonological impairments in English dyslexic readers.Front Psychol. 2019;10:2725. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02725Zoccolotti P, De Luca M, Marinelli CV.Interpreting developmental surface dyslexia within a comorbidity perspective.Brain Sci. 2021;11(12):1568. doi:10.3390/brainsci11121568Norton ES, Black JM, Stanley LM, et al.Functional neuroanatomical evidence for the double-deficit hypothesis of developmental dyslexia.Neuropsychologia. 2014;61:235-246. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.06.015National Center on Learning Disabilities.5 questions parents and educators can ask to start conversations about using terms like learning disabilities, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.American Psychological Association.Deep dyslexia.International Dyslexia Association.Frequently asked questions.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of reading disorders?International Dyslexia Association.Do I have dyslexia?Sanfilippo J, Ness M, Petscher Y, Rappaport L, Zuckerman B, Gaab N.Reintroducing dyslexia: Early identification and implications for pediatric practice.Pediatrics. 2020;146(1):e20193046. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-3046Reading Rockets.Structured literacy instruction: the basics.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cleveland Clinic.Dyslexia.University of Michigan Dyslexia Help.Frequently asked questions.Gialluisi A, Andlauer TFM, Mirza-Schreiber N, et al.Genome-wide association study reveals new insights into the heritability and genetic correlates of developmental dyslexia.Mol Psychiatry. 2021;26(7):3004-3017. doi:10.1038/s41380-020-00898-xNeuroHealth.Types of dyslexia.Cistola G, Farrús M, van der Meulen I.Aphasia and acquired reading impairments: What are the high-tech alternatives to compensate for reading deficits?Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2021;56(1):161-173. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12569Yale Dyslexia.What is dyslexia?Provazza S, Adams AM, Giofrè D, Roberts DJ.Double trouble: visual and phonological impairments in English dyslexic readers.Front Psychol. 2019;10:2725. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02725Zoccolotti P, De Luca M, Marinelli CV.Interpreting developmental surface dyslexia within a comorbidity perspective.Brain Sci. 2021;11(12):1568. doi:10.3390/brainsci11121568Norton ES, Black JM, Stanley LM, et al.Functional neuroanatomical evidence for the double-deficit hypothesis of developmental dyslexia.Neuropsychologia. 2014;61:235-246. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.06.015National Center on Learning Disabilities.5 questions parents and educators can ask to start conversations about using terms like learning disabilities, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.American Psychological Association.Deep dyslexia.International Dyslexia Association.Frequently asked questions.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of reading disorders?International Dyslexia Association.Do I have dyslexia?Sanfilippo J, Ness M, Petscher Y, Rappaport L, Zuckerman B, Gaab N.Reintroducing dyslexia: Early identification and implications for pediatric practice.Pediatrics. 2020;146(1):e20193046. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-3046Reading Rockets.Structured literacy instruction: the basics.
Cleveland Clinic.Dyslexia.
University of Michigan Dyslexia Help.Frequently asked questions.
Gialluisi A, Andlauer TFM, Mirza-Schreiber N, et al.Genome-wide association study reveals new insights into the heritability and genetic correlates of developmental dyslexia.Mol Psychiatry. 2021;26(7):3004-3017. doi:10.1038/s41380-020-00898-x
NeuroHealth.Types of dyslexia.
Cistola G, Farrús M, van der Meulen I.Aphasia and acquired reading impairments: What are the high-tech alternatives to compensate for reading deficits?Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2021;56(1):161-173. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12569
Yale Dyslexia.What is dyslexia?
Provazza S, Adams AM, Giofrè D, Roberts DJ.Double trouble: visual and phonological impairments in English dyslexic readers.Front Psychol. 2019;10:2725. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02725
Zoccolotti P, De Luca M, Marinelli CV.Interpreting developmental surface dyslexia within a comorbidity perspective.Brain Sci. 2021;11(12):1568. doi:10.3390/brainsci11121568
Norton ES, Black JM, Stanley LM, et al.Functional neuroanatomical evidence for the double-deficit hypothesis of developmental dyslexia.Neuropsychologia. 2014;61:235-246. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.06.015
National Center on Learning Disabilities.5 questions parents and educators can ask to start conversations about using terms like learning disabilities, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.
American Psychological Association.Deep dyslexia.
International Dyslexia Association.Frequently asked questions.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of reading disorders?
International Dyslexia Association.Do I have dyslexia?
Sanfilippo J, Ness M, Petscher Y, Rappaport L, Zuckerman B, Gaab N.Reintroducing dyslexia: Early identification and implications for pediatric practice.Pediatrics. 2020;146(1):e20193046. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-3046
Reading Rockets.Structured literacy instruction: the basics.
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