You've probably seen the claim that one in five people has dyslexia. That's 20% of the population. But is this figure accurate, and where does it come from? I regularly come across posts on social media stating that 20% of people have dyslexia. It's often presented as an established fact, but rarely with any reference to the research behind it. As a specialist teacher assessor, I think it's important that the information we share about dyslexia is accurate and supported by ev

If you or your child find it difficult to remember instructions, keep track of information or hold an idea in mind while writing, you may wonder whether dyslexia is the explanation. Dyslexia can be associated with working memory difficulties, but this is not true for everyone. Having dyslexia does not mean that all aspects of memory will be difficult, and having memory difficulties does not necessarily mean someone has dyslexia. The research helps us understand possible patte

By secondary school, reading and spelling difficulties can be easy to mistake for a lack of effort. A teenager may avoid homework, leave assignments until the last minute or say that they don’t care about school. Sometimes, behind those behaviours is a young person who finds the work difficult and doesn’t know how to explain why. Other teenagers work very hard to keep up. They may achieve good results, but spend considerably longer on their work than anyone realises. If you a

When your child finds reading or spelling difficult, it’s natural to wonder why. You might notice that they work hard but still struggle to remember spellings, that reading takes a lot of effort, or that homework is beginning to affect their confidence. Perhaps school has raised concerns. Or perhaps you’ve been told that your child is doing well enough, but you can see how much effort it takes behind the scenes. These experiences deserve attention. They don’t automatically me

Perhaps reading has always taken you longer than it seems to take other people. You might check an email several times before sending it, avoid writing when someone is watching or find that spelling remains difficult despite years of practice. You may have done well at school, gained qualifications or built a successful career. Yet some tasks still take considerable effort, and you have never quite understood why. If you are asking yourself, “Do I have dyslexia?”, you are not

If you are considering a dyslexia assessment, you may wonder whether an online appointment would suit you or your child. Perhaps travelling is difficult, or you would prefer to meet an assessor from home. An online assessment can be a helpful option, but it needs to be appropriate for the person being assessed. Before booking, it is worth understanding how it works, what you will need and what the findings can offer. Whatever the format, the purpose is the same: to investigat

When a child finds reading difficult, dyslexia may be one of the first explanations parents consider. But reading involves several skills, and understanding the difficulty means looking beyond how accurately a child reads the words. Can they understand the vocabulary? Follow the sentences? Explain what has happened in the story? Do similar difficulties arise when someone reads the text to them? These questions help us consider both literacy and language. Dyslexia and developm

Some children’s reading and spelling difficulties are immediately noticeable. Others are less obvious. A child may complete their work, behave well in lessons and achieve results that do not raise concerns. At home, however, homework takes considerable time, reading is exhausting or they become upset about school. When the finished work looks satisfactory, the effort behind it can be missed. Understanding a child’s learning means considering how they manage, what support they

Albert Einstein Cartoon When someone is identified as having dyslexia, families often look for reassuring examples of people who have achieved success. Hearing about famous people with dyslexia can help challenge the idea that reading and spelling difficulties limit what a person can do. But reassurance needs to be thoughtful. A child should not come away believing that they now need to become a brilliant scientist, an entrepreneur or a famous performer. For me, the most valu

Adam Dance in the House of Commons When dyslexia is discussed in Parliament, it can bring hope that children’s difficulties will be recognised earlier and support will become easier to access. It can also leave families wondering what has actually changed. Will schools now screen every child? Does screening provide a diagnosis? And what should you do if your child is struggling today? Adam Dance, MP for Yeovil, has raised these issues through his campaigning on neurodivergenc

If you have managed without a dyslexia diagnosis until now, you might wonder whether there is any point in being assessed. Perhaps you have qualifications, a career or ways of working that suit you. You may feel that you should simply carry on, even though reading and spelling still take more effort than you would like. But managing a difficulty and understanding it are different things. For some adults, an assessment is about finding practical support for study or work. For

Sometimes hearing someone describe their difficulties openly can help us put words to our own experiences. Jamie Oliver’s Channel 4 documentary, Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution, explores his experiences of school and the challenges facing children with dyslexia. Through conversations with pupils, parents, teachers and scientists, it asks how education could become more inclusive. For families watching, it may bring up familiar concerns. Why does learning take so much effort? Is m

If you are considering a dyslexia assessment for yourself or your child, you may have quite a few questions. Who should you contact? What happens during the appointment? And will the findings help you understand what to do next? You do not need to be certain that dyslexia is the explanation before asking for advice. An assessment is a way of investigating persistent difficulties with reading and spelling and understanding the support a person may need. For me, that understand

Dyslexia Assessment If you have struggled with reading and spelling, or watched your child work hard without making the progress you hoped for, hearing someone question whether dyslexia exists can feel unsettling. You might wonder whether a diagnosis is meaningful, whether an assessment is worthwhile, or whether your difficulties will be taken seriously. Dyslexia is recognised in research and professional practice. There is also debate about how it should be defined, how it i

Dyslexia Testing If you have been reading about dyslexia, you may have come across the Delphi definition published in 2025. But what does it mean for you or your child? Professional definitions can sound quite technical. Their value lies in helping us understand difficulties more clearly and guiding careful assessment. For me, the important question is how that understanding helps the person. Does it explain their experiences? Does it help the people around them provide appro

What are the signs of dyslexia? You may have wondered about dyslexia for years without feeling sure enough to ask anyone. Perhaps spelling has always been difficult, reading takes considerable effort or written tasks seem to take you much longer than other people. You might have found ways to manage and assumed that this is simply how things are for you. Then something prompts the question again. Your child receives a diagnosis, a new job involves more paperwork or you return

Guide to DSA for students with dyslexia. Starting university—or returning to education as an adult—can bring questions about how you will manage the reading, assignments and independent study. If you have dyslexia, you may already know what helps. Alternatively, you might have managed throughout school but now find that keeping up takes considerably more time and effort than you expected. Disabled Students’ Allowance, usually called DSA, can help eligible students access supp

Dyslexia test. “Those spellings were right yesterday. Why can’t they remember them today?” This is a question parents sometimes ask when their child practises carefully but struggles to use the same spellings later. Adults may recognise the experience too: knowing a word, understanding its meaning and still hesitating over how to spell it. It can be frustrating, particularly when the difficulty is mistaken for carelessness or a lack of practice. Understanding how we learn wri

What are the early signs of dyslexia? When your child begins learning to read and spell, it can be difficult to know which struggles are part of learning and which deserve further attention. Perhaps they find letter sounds difficult to remember, need considerable help to read a short book or become upset when it is time to practise. You may hear that they will catch up, while wondering whether something more is going on. You do not need to be certain that your child has dysle

What is dyslexia? “They can read, so they can’t have dyslexia.” “They just need to practise more.” “They’ve done well at school, so there can’t be a problem.” Comments like these can leave people questioning difficulties they experience every day. Parents may wonder whether they are worrying unnecessarily. Adults may feel they should simply work harder, even when they have spent years doing exactly that. Understanding dyslexia involves looking beyond assumptions. It means con