What is Dyslexia

1. 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.

2. Dyslexic students problems- Reading • 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. Dyslexic students problems – Visual short term memory • Numeracy difficulties. • Sequencing and ordering difficulties. • Time management. • Left-right confusion and co-ordination.

8. Secondary Characteristics • Anxiety stress and panic. • Lack of confidence, not like or valuing self. • Tiredness, fatigue burnout. • Frustration and anger.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Useful contacts • British Dyslexia Association (http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/about-dyslexia.html) • Birkbeck Disability Website (http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/disability)