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Literacy and reading comprehension are critical skills that can impact your life in many ways. Knowing how to read efficiently is the foundation for your education and is a requirement for most jobs. So if you're struggling to manage the symptoms of a learning disability, it can feel discouraging.

Dyslexia is a condition that affects parts of the brain that process language. As a result, it often makes it difficult for people to decode letters, identify speech sounds, and more. Contrary to popular belief, this reading disability doesn't always have a link to intelligence or vision. In most cases, the issue revolves around word and letter interpretation. It can affect how you read, write, spell, and speak.

This disorder is more common than most people realize. The Department of Biotechnology estimates that it affects roughly 10 percent of the Indian population, with millions of children falling into that figure. This condition can have a rippling effect. Some children may experience behavioral issues, learning setbacks, and more. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Major Causes

Psychologists have a deep understanding of learning disabilities. They know how to diagnose them and provide treatment. But there are still many unknowns. One of the biggest is what causes it.

Researchers have yet to pinpoint the exact cause. However, ongoing studies continue to point to a possible genetic link.

Studies indicate that this condition could be hereditary. Some people with the disorder come from a family with a long history of similar issues. Interestingly, many diagnosed individuals may also have siblings with reading issues.

In addition to possible genetic correlations, researchers believe that brain anatomy and activity might come into play. Studies utilizing brain imaging show physical differences in individuals with reading disabilities. The parts of the brain that deal with relevant reading skills are noticeably different from those that don't experience issues.

Common Signs

Dyslexia is a complex illness that can affect you in many ways. Not everyone shares the same symptoms, making this condition one of the trickier ones to spot early.

Believe it or not, the earliest signs of this neurological illness can appear long before you enter school. Some toddlers might have the neurological disease if they don't start talking until after 12 to 18 months of age. When they finally begin speaking, they might have trouble forming new words, remembering names, or learning familiar nursery rhymes.

Typically, most symptoms become apparent once kids enter school. Parents might notice signs of this disorder as children begin their educational journey. In addition to significantly lower reading levels, common symptoms include:

• Difficulty forming answers
• Struggles processing and understanding instructions
• Issues remembering sequences
• Spelling problems
• Trouble sounding out unfamiliar words

Unfortunately, those symptoms can get worse as a child gets older. Eventually, they may develop mental health problems directly tied to the learning disability. For example, some kids grow anxious when reading aloud, eventually leading to self-esteem issues and mood dysfunctions.

Similar symptoms apply to adults. But with adult sufferers, the effects of dyslexia often significantly impact the quality of life. You might take longer to complete reading tasks, have trouble memorizing things, or experience trouble with basic pronunciations.

The symptoms are varied, and everyone is different. That's why it's essential to seek help from a counselor.

Risk Factors

A few factors could increase your risk of having this reading disorder. The one that most providers typically pay attention to is family history. If you have relatives past and present with this condition or other learning disabilities, there's a higher chance that you might have dyslexia. As mentioned earlier, anomalies in brain anatomy and activity are also factors.

Some researchers believe that early exposure to alcohol, drugs, and nicotine could alter the brain as a fetus, increasing the risks of learning disabilities. The same goes for premature birth and lower birth weight.

How Providers Test if Someone is Dyslexic

Diagnosing is a complex process. There's no single evaluation technique to determine whether or not you have this learning disorder. Because it's so multi-faceted, mental healthcare providers and psychologists use several methods to better understand the issues you face.

It tends to be easier to diagnose children. Many schools have the resources to perform reading tests and in-depth evaluations. As an adult, getting diagnosed usually requires the service of a counselor or clinical psychologist.

Psychologists can provide many unique evaluations that test to scrutinize the many skills required to read. That usually includes your reading comprehension, rapid naming, and your ability to understand the relationship between letters and sounds. You may also receive tests for phonological awareness, which involves recognizing and using the sounds in spoken language.

These tests are pretty comprehensive, giving counselors all the information they need to determine if you have this learning disability. For more insight, these evaluations are usually part of a more extensive diagnosing session. You may also fill out questionnaires, do interviews, and undergo basic neurological testing.

The process can seem intense at first, but it's necessary to understand the bigger picture. With this condition’s complexity, providers need to gather as much information as possible to rule out other conditions that might affect your reading ability.

The Main Types

While most people use "dyslexia" as a catch-all for reading disabilities, it's more like an umbrella term to describe a few different types of disorders. Understanding the kind of neurological condition can ensure you get the proper help to address it. Here's a quick breakdown of some of the most common classifications.

Phonological

Experts usually consider this type to be the most common. It's what most people think of when you discuss dyslexia. The main issue for most people with this variant is often trouble matching sounds to symbols. Individuals may have problems decoding words and sounding things out as they read.

Symptoms may include difficulty spelling, sounding out new words, and slow reading.

Surface

If you struggle to recognize words you already know, you might have surface dyslexia. With this variant, the brain often fails to identify familiar words quickly. There may be a slight delay as you stammer to remember how a word sounds.

The biggest issue with this type is that it is challenging to memorize specific words. Not every word sounds how you spell it, so you might encounter problems with simple words you've said millions of times. Even if you attempt to sound it out, those challenges can persist.

Visual

Visual processing is the main issue with this disability. Some people with this reading disorder may struggle to remember what they saw on a page. For example, they might look at a sentence and still not fully understand the words or meaning. The brain can't remember details like letter shape or sequencing.

Common symptoms of visual dyslexia include blurring words or trouble tracking sentences. Visually, the text might go out of focus or appear to move. For some people, it sometimes causes headaches and eyestrain.

Rapid Naming Deficit

Do you have problems reciting colors, numbers, or letters? If so, you might have a rapid naming deficit. The biggest problem here is processing what you see. You may know what color, number, or letter you're looking at, but it takes a little longer for you to find the word for it.

This ailment can be problematic because it sometimes causes trouble retrieving words. Some people often substitute words with jibberish or have incomplete sentences.

Double Deficit

Finally, there's double deficit dyslexia. This means that an individual has trouble with two facets of reading. What those are can vary from one person to the next. But in many cases, it is poor naming speed and trouble identifying sounds.

Many experts consider it to be the most severe form of reading disorder. It comes with weak phonological awareness and sometimes requires intense learning interventions to overcome.

How to Deal With Your Symptoms

Dealing with any learning disability is not easy. It requires ongoing work, acceptance, and a healthy mindset.

There is no quick fix or miracle cure. Luckily, some fantastic resources are available to help you deal with the setbacks of this illness. Here are a few things you can do to tackle this problem and be proactive about managing your disability.

• Seek evaluation: The first thing you should do is get a proper diagnosis. A mental healthcare provider can clarify your type of disorder and what you can do to manage it. Knowledge is half the battle, and knowing what you're up against makes all the difference.
• See a counselor: A big part of treating neurological ailments is finding new ways to learn. A counselor can guide you in the right direction. There are many techniques available. One of the most common is multisensory structured language education. Either way, a counselor equips you with the tools you need to learn at your own pace. You can develop tricks to manage your disorder moving forward.
• Advocate for yourself: Many people with reading disabilities often suffer in silence. One of the most empowering things you can do is advocate for yourself and speak up. There's nothing to be ashamed of, and you are within your right to seek reasonable accommodations at work or school to make things easier.
• Seek support: As always, it's a good idea to have the support of someone you can trust. Whether that's family or a licensed mental health counselor, having someone in your corner makes a difference.

Get Treatment From a Licensed Therapist Who’s Right For You

If you have a reading disability, getting treatment from a licensed therapist can be a life-changing endeavor. These conditions aren't something you want to ignore or push under the rug. You can get help. With professional assistance, you might see dramatic improvements in everything you do, from positive changes at work and school to a shift in your overall mental health.

Therapists can help you in many ways. From teaching you how to tackle your unique problems to empowering you with the insight you need to seek accommodations, they're there to help you take steps towards a more productive future.

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