What are 5 different dyslexia types?

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Imagine a world where reading feels like you're deciphering a secret code. Where letters and words seem crowded together, distorted or reversed. Where it isn't easy to sound out words or keep track of words on a page. This is the world of dyslexia.

Whether you're a teacher with students who have reading challenges, or a student yourself, knowing the signs of different dyslexia types can help you identify resources to manage these challenges.

Dyslexia is a learning disability where someone has difficulty connecting speech sounds to letters and words. This results in spelling and word recognition issues, leading to overall reading comprehension challenges.

This video from the Queensland Department of Education explores the definition of dyslexia through examples of common challenges people with dyslexia may face.

There are 5 subcategories of dyslexia:

• phonological dyslexia

• rapid naming dyslexia

• surface dyslexia

• visual dyslexia

• acquired dyslexia

Each type varies, depending on the symptoms someone has.

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This is when someone has difficulty with phonemic awareness (the ability to name and change sounds in words).

Possible Symptoms

• Difficulty learning letter sounds

• Difficulty spelling words correctly

• Trouble with blending sounds to make words

• Slow reading speed

• Avoids reading

• Inability to sound out words

This may describe someone who struggles with naming letters and identifying numbers and colors quickly.

Possible Symptoms

• Difficulty naming words by sight

• Slow to complete writing assignments

• Slower reading pace

This happens when someone can sound out new words but has difficulty recognizing high-frequency words (i.e. from, said, the, etc.) and words that aren't spelled how they sound (i.e. yacht, through, etc.).

Possible Symptoms

• Poor spelling

• Slow reading speed

• Difficulty reading words by sight

This is similar to surface dyslexia in that people may not easily recall what they've seen on a page. This breakdown relates to visual processing, as their eyes don't seem to fully understand what was seen.

Possible Symptoms

• Difficulty tracking across a line

• Eyestrain headaches

• Blurred/unfocused vision

• Trouble with reading comprehension

This type of dyslexia is caused by trauma to the brain and impacts the language processing center. The symptoms of acquired dyslexia are similar to the ones shared above. However, it's the only type with a known cause.

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Dyslexia is a broad topic and the research out there can be overwhelming. Don't worry though! If you're looking for next steps, these suggestions can help get you started:

For Students:

• Speak with your teacher or school counselor to see if they observe any dyslexia-related symptoms in your assignments or classroom performance.

• You may consider obtaining an evaluation yourself to see if you qualify for special education services or special accommodations.

• Visit Reading Rockets for more details about dyslexia assessments and evaluations.

  

For Teachers:

• Speak with your students' parents or guardians to share your concerns; encourage them to request an evaluation.

• Share your concerns with Special Education professionals at your school and ask for guidance and support in assessing and addressing students' needs.

• Differentiate your instruction to include multisensory teaching methods, additional assignment time, or small group support.

• Encourage your student to share their needs with you. Ask what they struggle with most so that you can provide specific support.

• Learn about how to support students with dyslexia in your classroom by visiting the teacher resources page at The Yale Center.

• Learn about supporting neurodiverse students by checking out the Byte How do I support neurodiversity in my classroom as a teacher?

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If you suspect you are experiencing symptoms of dyslexia: