From the Research
Mild dyslexia is characterized by subtle difficulties with reading, spelling, and language processing that don't severely impact daily functioning, as evident from a meta-analytic study published in 2020 1. The characteristics of mild dyslexia include:
- Reading at a slower pace
- Struggling with unfamiliar words
- Making spelling errors
- Difficulty with phonological awareness (connecting sounds to letters)
- Reversing letters or numbers occasionally
- Trouble with sequencing information
- Challenges with reading comprehension despite adequate intelligence
- Working memory difficulties that may cause individuals to forget instructions or lose their place while reading These difficulties stem from differences in how the brain processes language, particularly in the left hemisphere regions responsible for language processing, as discussed in a review of dyslexia published in 2020 2. Individuals with mild dyslexia may develop effective coping strategies, making their symptoms less obvious, and early intervention through structured literacy programs, phonics-based instruction, and multisensory learning approaches is most effective, as shown in a study on compensatory reading therapy published in 2019 3. With appropriate support and accommodations like extra time for reading tasks, individuals with mild dyslexia can achieve academic and professional success, despite the potential presence of other learning disabilities or psychiatric disorders, such as ADHD, anxiety, or behavioral disorders, which are commonly comorbid with dyslexia, as highlighted in a review of dyslexia's comorbidities published in 2010 4.