What Is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability affecting reading, writing, and spelling. It is neurological in origin — the brain processes language-based information differently. Dyslexia is not related to intelligence; many highly intelligent people have dyslexia.
Approximately 10% of India's school population is estimated to have dyslexia, making it the most common learning disability. It is significantly underdiagnosed in India, particularly in Hindi-medium and regional language schools.
Signs of Dyslexia in Indian Children
Early signs (pre-school/early school): Difficulty learning nursery rhymes, trouble learning letter names and sounds, confusing similar-sounding words, slow in learning to read compared to peers.
School-age signs: Reads slowly, guesses words by first letter, avoids reading aloud, makes unexpected spelling errors, reverses letters (b/d, p/q), difficulty with mental math, great understanding when listened to vs. when reading.
Diagnosis in India
Psychoeducational assessment by a Clinical Psychologist or Neuropsychologist evaluates: reading fluency and accuracy, phonological processing, spelling, working memory, processing speed, and IQ (to confirm average/above intelligence).
Government: NIMHANS, AIIMS, state institutes for mental health.
Private: Clinical psychologists in major cities. Cost: ₹3,000–10,000 for full assessment.
Multi-Language Consideration
Indian children often learn to read in 2–3 scripts simultaneously (Devanagari, English, regional language). Dyslexia affects the underlying phonological processing — it will be evident across all languages, though it may present differently.
Support Strategies
Orton-Gillingham method: Systematic, multi-sensory reading instruction specifically designed for dyslexia.
Text-to-speech tools: Let the child listen to text they cannot decode.
CBSE/state board accommodations: Extra time, scribe, oral exams.