Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed.
Dyslexic people may also have difficulties with organisation and time management. They may also have co-occurring difficulties such as Dyspraxia, ADHD/ADD and Dyscalculia.
Dyspraxia
Dyspraxia is also called Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD), and is a disability that affects movement and co-ordination. Although the exact causes of dyspraxia is unknown, it is thought to be caused by a disruption in the way messages from the brain are transmitted to the body.
Dyspraxia is characterised by difficulty in planning smooth, coordinated movements. This leads to clumsiness and lack of co-ordination. Often, it can also lead to problems with language, perception and thought.
ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a medical condition that affects people's behaviour. It is a neurodiverse condition but is not a learning difficulty. However, it often appears alongside specific learning difficulties such as Dyslexia and Dyspraxia.
People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse.
Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age, and most cases of ADHD are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old. However, ADHD is sometimes not recognised in childhood, but is diagnosed later on in young people or adults.
There are two types of symptoms:
Inattentiveness - difficulty concentrating and focusing
Hyperactivity and impulsiveness
Many people have problems with both but some have only the problem of inattentiveness.
This is called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
ADHD is more often diagnosed in boys than girls. Girls are more likely to have ADD without the hyperactivity and they are not always diagnosed.
Dyscalculia
People with dyscalculia experience great difficulty with the most basic aspects of numbers and arithmetic. Many have difficulty understanding simple number concepts, lack an intuitive grasp of numbers, and have problems learning number facts and procedures. Even if they produce a correct answer or use a correct method, they may do so mechanically and without confidence.
For more information contact the Dyscalculia Association UK.