Attentional Dyslexia: A Different Kind of Reading Disorder

Submitted by Judy Hanning on Thu, 2018-12-13 19:33

Dyslexia is a common reading disorder, but few probably know there are different kinds of it, each with unique symptoms.

A 2010 study from Tel Aviv University, Israel revealed a reading disorder called "attentional dyslexia." This varation of dyslexia causes people to "identify letters correctly, but the letters jump between words on the page." For example, "kind wing" would be read as "wind king".

How it works

This is different from the typical understanding of dyslexia, where children substitute letters when reading. When it comes to attentional dyslexia, the substitutions are not related to identifying letters or converting words into sounds. Instead, the letters from some words actually migrate to other words. The most common variation is that the first letter of one word would switch places with the first letter of another word.

"Recognizing that there are different types of dyslexia helps to treat the children who suffer from it."

Why it's important

While this difference may seem minor at first glance, it's vital that the specifics of one's dyslexia be addressed. Recognizing that there are different types of dyslexia helps to treat the children who suffer from it. After all, we must know what their specific reading and writing problems are before they can be treated.

You can download the Attentional Dyslexia Study

“Developmental attentional dyslexia” by Naama Friedmann, Noa Kerbel and Lilach Shvimer

And the spelling impairments study 

“Spelling impairments in Italian dyslexic children: Phenomenological changes in primary school” by Paola Angelelli, Alessandra Notarnicola, Anna Judica, Pierluigi Zoccolotti and Claudio Luzzatti

Key Takeaways:

1
Attentional dyslexia is a different kind of dyslexia.
2
Letters from some words migrate to and switch with letters from other words.
3
Identifying these different kinds of dyslexia is vital for treatment.

There are easy ways to drastically improve your reading ability by identifying just one "micro-skill.”
Use our simple online analysis tool to help you find what areas need to be strengthened.

 

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