What Is Dyslexia? Busting the Myths and Understanding the Facts

When people hear the word dyslexia, they often picture letter reversals or poor spelling. However, dyslexia is much more than that. It's a natural variation in how some brains process written language and with the right support, children with dyslexia can thrive in their learning.

At Flourish Dyslexia, we use the Delphi (2024) definition of dyslexia. This is the most current and research-informed definition developed by international experts in the field.

What Is Dyslexia?

“Dyslexia is a set of processing difficulties that affect the acquisition of reading and spelling.”

According to the Delphi (2024) definition:

Dyslexia affects reading fluency and spelling, which are key indicators across all languages
It exists on a continuum and can present in many different ways
It often involves challenges with phonological processing and can also affect working memory, processing speed and language retrieval
It may impact other areas of learning such as maths, language learning and reading comprehension
Dyslexia often occurs alongside other learning differences, including ADHD, Developmental Language Disorder, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia

Dyslexia is not a problem to be fixed. It is a different way of processing information and with the right understanding and support, children can develop strategies that work for them.

What Dyslexia Is Not

Understanding what dyslexia is also means clearing up some common misunderstandings about what it is not.

❌ Dyslexia is not caused by poor teaching or lack of effort

Children with dyslexia often try very hard. Their challenges are not about motivation but about how they process language.

❌ Dyslexia is not just seeing letters backwards

While some children may confuse similar-looking letters like b and d, dyslexia is not a vision problem. It relates to how the brain processes sounds and written language.

❌ Dyslexia is not the same as visual stress

Visual stress, also known as Meares Irlen Syndrome or scotopic sensitivity, is a separate difficulty that affects how some people see text on a page. Words may appear to move, blur or become distorted, especially on bright white backgrounds. It is not a form of dyslexia, but it can co-occur. Some children with dyslexia also experience visual stress, while others do not.

❌ Dyslexia is not a delay in learning

Dyslexia is not something children grow out of. It is a different way of processing language that lasts into adulthood. With the right understanding and support, children with dyslexia can thrive.

❌ Dyslexia is not linked to low intelligence

Many children with dyslexia have strengths in areas like creative thinking, verbal reasoning and problem solving. Intelligence and dyslexia are not connected.

Common Misconceptions

“They’ll grow out of it” → Dyslexia is lifelong, but strategies and confidence grow with the right support
“If they can read, they can’t be dyslexic” → Some learners mask difficulties by using memory or context clues
“It only affects reading and writing” → It can also influence memory, attention, and the ability to learn new languages
“It’s just bad spelling” → Spelling is one part. Dyslexia is about how the brain processes sounds and written language

Recognising Dyslexic Learners

Every learner is different, but some common signs of dyslexia might include:

Difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words
Slower reading pace
Challenges with spelling and word recall
Struggling to remember instructions
Avoiding reading or writing tasks
Having great ideas but finding it hard to get them down on paper

These signs can appear together or separately. What matters is how the learner is feeling and how we respond.

Moving Forward with Understanding

Dyslexia is not a limitation. With early identification and tailored support, learners can build confidence, enjoy learning and succeed in their own way.

At Flourish Dyslexia, we use a neuro-affirming, strength-based approach. We look at the whole child, celebrate their abilities and provide practical strategies that work for them.

When people hear the word dyslexia, they often picture letter reversals or poor spelling. However, dyslexia is much more than that. It's a natural variation in how some brains process written language and with the right support, children with dyslexia can thrive in their learning.

At Flourish Dyslexia, we use the Delphi (2024) definition of dyslexia. This is the most current and research-informed definition developed by international experts in the field.

What Is Dyslexia?

“Dyslexia is a set of processing difficulties that affect the acquisition of reading and spelling.”

According to the Delphi (2024) definition:

Dyslexia affects reading fluency and spelling, which are key indicators across all languages

It exists on a continuum and can present in many different ways

It often involves challenges with phonological processing and can also affect working memory, processing speed and language retrieval

It may impact other areas of learning such as maths, language learning and reading comprehension

Dyslexia often occurs alongside other learning differences, including ADHD, Developmental Language Disorder, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia

Dyslexia is not a problem to be fixed. It is a different way of processing information and with the right understanding and support, children can develop strategies that work for them.

What Dyslexia Is Not

Understanding what dyslexia is also means clearing up some common misunderstandings about what it is not.

❌ Dyslexia is not caused by poor teaching or lack of effort

Children with dyslexia often try very hard. Their challenges are not about motivation but about how they process language.

❌ Dyslexia is not just seeing letters backwards

While some children may confuse similar-looking letters like b and d, dyslexia is not a vision problem. It relates to how the brain processes sounds and written language.

❌ Dyslexia is not the same as visual stress

❌ Dyslexia is not a delay in learning

Dyslexia is not something children grow out of. It is a different way of processing language that lasts into adulthood. With the right understanding and support, children with dyslexia can thrive.

❌ Dyslexia is not linked to low intelligence

Many children with dyslexia have strengths in areas like creative thinking, verbal reasoning and problem solving. Intelligence and dyslexia are not connected.

Common Misconceptions

“They’ll grow out of it” → Dyslexia is lifelong, but strategies and confidence grow with the right support

“If they can read, they can’t be dyslexic” → Some learners mask difficulties by using memory or context clues

“It only affects reading and writing” → It can also influence memory, attention, and the ability to learn new languages

“It’s just bad spelling” → Spelling is one part. Dyslexia is about how the brain processes sounds and written language

Recognising Dyslexic Learners

Every learner is different, but some common signs of dyslexia might include:

Difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words

Slower reading pace

Challenges with spelling and word recall

Struggling to remember instructions

Avoiding reading or writing tasks

Having great ideas but finding it hard to get them down on paper

These signs can appear together or separately. What matters is how the learner is feeling and how we respond.

Moving Forward with Understanding

Dyslexia is not a limitation. With early identification and tailored support, learners can build confidence, enjoy learning and succeed in their own way.

At Flourish Dyslexia, we use a neuro-affirming, strength-based approach. We look at the whole child, celebrate their abilities and provide practical strategies that work for them.

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