Facts from the International Dyslexia Association:

• A formal psycho-educational assessment is the only way to confirm a diagnosis of dyslexia.
• Individuals with dyslexia may have challenges in reading, writing, spelling and note-taking
• They may have poor time awareness skills
• They may experience difficulty with rote memory
• However, they may be good at problem-solving, be creative, observant and have good social empathy skills
• It can exhibit as letter or word reversals, omissions or substitutions
• It is more common in males and associated with left-handedness
• Dyslexia is shown to run in families - genetic
• Affects individuals with average to above average intelligence
• Individuals may also have difficulty printing, known as dysgraphia or with numeracy called dyscalculia
• Individuals have trouble with phonemic awareness - cannot hear the individual sounds that comprise words
• Students may be mistakenly labelled as disorganized, disinterested, lazy or as slow learners
• 20% of Canada's population have a learning difference, half of those are specifically dyslexic
• Those with dyslexia do not "see" words backwards or write them backwards
• Individuals with dyslexia greatly benefit from early-intervention remediation. However, it is never too late to start!
  

For more about dyslexia visit the Ontario Branch of the International Dyslexia Association