The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) Management has adopted the Rose (2009) definition of dyslexia and defines the condition as:
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent reading and spelling.
Characteristic features of dyslexia are
- difficulties in phonological awareness: the the ability to process the sound system of language relating to reading
- verbal memory: the storage of speech-based information
- verbal processing speed: how quickly language can be retrieved and articulated
Dyslexia occurs across the range of intellectual abilities.
It is best thought of as a continuum, not a distinct category, and there are no clear cut-off points.
Co-occurring difficulties may be seen in aspects of
- language
- motor co-ordination
- mental calculation
- concentration
- personal organisation
but these are not, by themselves, markers of dyslexia.
A good indication of the severity and persistence of dyslexic difficulties can be gained by examining how the individual responds or has responded to well-founded intervention.
In addition to these characteristics The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) acknowledges:
- visual and auditory processing difficulties that some individuals with dyslexia can experience: difficulties understanding and reacting to visual and auditory information
and points out that dyslexic readers can show a combination of abilities and difficulties that affect the learning process.
Some also have strengths in other areas, such as
- design
- problem solving
- creative skills
- interactive skills
- oral skills
(BDA, 2010).
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/news/definition-of-dyslexia, accessed on 11/08/2022
Deborah Cobbing 