What is dyslexia?

A real difficulty, with effective support

Dyslexia is the most common learning difficulty: it is estimated to affect 5 to 10% of the population. In many cases it runs in families — it is common that, when a child is diagnosed, parents recognise the same difficulties in their own history.

Children with dyslexia are often intelligent, creative and have excellent verbal reasoning. What sets them apart is the way the brain processes written symbols — not what they are able to learn.

Dyslexia is not a matter of intelligence. It is a matter of how the brain reads.

— International scientific consensus

How common is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is the most common learning difficulty. Estimates vary with the study and the population: the DSM-5-TR points to around 4% of school-age children, but several authors report figures between 5% and 10% — with 10% being a widely accepted number.

In Portugal, a study coordinated by Ana Vale, with 1,360 children, identified 74 (5.4%) who met all the criteria for dyslexia — a prevalence of 5.44%, in line with international figures. The same study found that more boys than girls have reading deficits.

Dyslexia results from a deficit in the phonological component of language — unexpected given the child's other abilities.

— International Dyslexia Association (2002); National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (2002)

How dyslexia shows up

The signs vary with age and may include:

• Difficulty learning the names and sounds of letters
• Swapping or reversing letters and syllables when reading and writing
• Slow, effortful reading, with many hesitations and errors
• Difficulty spelling words, even familiar ones
• Tiring quickly during reading or writing tasks
• Strong spoken expression, but written work below what's expected

These signs do not point to laziness or lack of effort. They are clues that something deserves specialist attention.

Intervention makes the difference

With the right support, started early, most children with dyslexia learn to read in a functional, independent way. The key lies in intervention that is structured, personalised and evidence-based.

At the Clínica de Dislexia, we begin with a thorough assessment that identifies each child's strengths and areas of difficulty. From there, we build an intervention plan made to measure — with one-to-one sessions, proven strategies and close support for the family.

The sooner we start, the better the results. But it is never too late to seek support.