If you took the Myth or Fact Quiz that was posted in December, check how accurate your answers were below!  Come back to read my next post to see the rest of the answers next week.

Answers and Explanations

Myth #1             Dyslexia is not real.

Dyslexia is real. Dyslexia is one of the most researched learning disabilities and has been studied for over 30 years. Dyslexic reading tendencies are proven and can be seen in fMRI brain imaging. Dyslexia is the most common type of learning disability.

Myth #2            Dyslexia is when people see words and numbers backwards.

People with dyslexia do not see things backwards. (That would be a super power!) Dyslexia is not a vision problem. Individuals with dyslexia reverse or invert numbers and/or letters (b/p/d, q/g, n/u) because of directionality confusion.

Myth #3            A developmental reading disability is different from dyslexia.

 The term dyslexia is another word for developmental reading disability or reading disability. The terms can be used interchangeably. There are other reasons children might struggle to read, but dyslexia is the most common form of reading disability. If a child is dyslexic they will also have difficulty with spelling.

Myth #4            Kids can’t be tested for dyslexia until they are at least 8 years old.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) reports that children can be tested as young as 5 ½ years old with 92% accuracy.

Myth #5            More boys are dyslexic than girls.

 Prevalence for boys and girls are the same. Boys may be identified more often because they tend to act out more than girls. Their behavior gets them in trouble and gets them noticed. Girls are just as likely to have dyslexia as boys.