Literacy Impairment

Question 1

What is dyslexia?

Answer 1

common learning difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling.
specific learning difficulty, which means it causes problems with certain abilities used for learning, such as reading and writing.
Unlike a learning disability intelligence isn’t affected.

Question 2

What is hyperlexia?

Answer 2

a child precocious ability to read (far

above what would be expected at their age/ability to do things earlier than usual),

Question 3

What are Firth’s (1975) stages of reading?

Answer 3

Preliterate
Logographic
Alphabetic
Orthographic
Direct Analogy

Question 4

What difficulties stem beyond literacy?

Answer 4

Poor new word learning (particularly subject specific)
Difficulties meeting deadlines
Forgetting appointments i.e. time management and organisation
Many poor readers disengage with literacy and education – 20-50% of young offenders have
poor literacy skills. (Snowling 2008)

Question 5

What are signs of dyslexia in pre-school children?

Answer 5

delayed or problematic speech
poor expressive language
poor learning skills
little interest in learning letters

Question 6

What are signs of dyslexia in Early school years children?

Answer 6

Poor letter sound knowledge
Poor phoneme awareness
Poor word attack skills
Problems copying

Question 7

What are signs of dyslexia in middle school children?

Answer 7

slow reading
poor decoding skills when faced with new words
phonetic or non-phonetic spelling

Question 8

What are signs of dyslexia in adolescence and adults?

Answer 8

Poor reading fluency
Slow speed of writing
Poor organisation and expression at work

Question 9

What are the causes of dyslexia?

Answer 9

Genetic
Neurobiological
Psychosocial influences
More research is required to clarify the different pathways children who are at risk follow on
the way to literacy.