What is Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning disability characterised
by problems in expressive or receptive, oral
or written language. Problems may emerge in
reading, spelling, writing, speaking or
listening.
 Dyslexia is not a disease; it has no cure.
Dyslexia describes a different kind of mind.
Often gifted and productive, that learns
differently.
 Intelligence is not the problem.
Dyslexic students problemsReading
Need to read something over and over
in order to make sense of it and
understand what it means
 Read slowly and find reading very time
consuming. It may also be difficult for
them to remember what they have read
 Find their reading is inaccurate, they
might add words or miss them out

Dyslexic students problems Reading

Lose their place and have to start again
 Find that it is very hard to focus on the page,
it may look distorted and demand huge
concentration and effort. This is very tiring
 Find reading difficult because of unfamiliar or
new vocabulary which is hard for them to
remember
 Mis-read familiar words or phrases
Dyslexic students problems Writing





Find that spelling is a problem for them,
especially small words
Spell words in the way that they sound
Confuse words or miss them out
Write slowly making lots and lots of drafts
Write very quickly in an attempt to write down
their thoughts before they lose them
Dyslexic students problems Writing
Have difficulty making sense of what
they have written when they read it back
 Have difficulties in structuring and
organising their ideas in writing
 Find it very hard to express themselves
accurately in writing

Dyslexic students problems –
Auditory short term memory

Difficulty remembering information for exams,
names, processes and instructions.
 Oral skill difficulty, finding words,
mispronunciation, listening and structuring
and saying things in the right order.
 Doing more than one thing at a time –
combining two or more activities e.g. listening
and writing.
Dyslexic students problems –
Visual short term memory
Numeracy difficulties.
 Sequencing and ordering difficulties.
 Time management.
 Left-right confusion and co-ordination.

Secondary Characteristics
Anxiety stress and panic.
 Lack of confidence, not like or valuing
self.
 Tiredness, fatigue burnout.
 Frustration and anger.

Positive aspects of Dyslexia: A
dyslexic student may:
Be creative
 By a divergent thinker
 Be insightful and innovative
 Be good at creative knowledge
 Be good at problem solving
 Be good at creative writing or poetry
 Be articulate

Support for students with Specific
Learning Difficulties
The Disabled Students Allowance
 Support in the library
 Support in IT Services through
specialist software packages (Texthelp
and Inspiration
 Special examination arrangements

Dyslexia Screening
If you suspect that you may be dyslexic
we can provide a dyslexia screening
service where we can discuss your
difficulties in more detail
 We can then help arrange a full dyslexia
assessment if appropriate

Making an appointment with the
Disability Office
Disability Office appointments
 One hour appointments available at 12pm,
1pm, 2pm and 3pm Monday - Friday
 Contact 0845 601 0174 or email
disability@bbk.ac.uk to make an
appointment
 Disability Office drop in 4pm to 6pm
Monday –Friday
Urgent issues;
Brief enquiries
Useful contacts
British Dyslexia Association
(http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/aboutdyslexia.html)
 Birkbeck Disability Website
(http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/servic
es/facilities/disability)
