Introduction

We often hear about it, but do we really know what it is? Dyslexia is not an illness, nor is it a sign of weakness, it's a learning disorder that’s often confused with other academic difficulties. Affecting about 5 to 10% of the world’s population, it’s one of the most common DYS disorders. Above all, dyslexia represents a different way of learning and understanding written language. It can make reading, writing, or comprehension more challenging, but it does not prevent success, far from it. Identifying the signs of dyslexia early allows for better support and tailored assistance. Understanding this disorder also means learning how to make information more accessible for everyone, at school, at work, and in everyday life.

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a neurological learning disorder: the brain doesn’t decode written language in the same way as most people. You could say that the brain takes a slightly different route to reach reading — the path is different, sometimes longer, but the destination is the same. This particularity can make reading, writing, or their automation more difficult, without affecting intelligence or learning ability.

Dyslexia belongs to the large DYS family, alongside dysorthography, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia. Often invisible, these disorders can influence school life, professional life, or self-confidence — that’s why dyslexia is sometimes referred to as an invisible disability.

What are the 3 types of dyslexia?

• Phonological dyslexia: the most common type. It affects the connection between sounds and letters. Reading a new word becomes difficult, and mistakes such as inverted words or syllables may appear.

• Surface dyslexia: here, the difficulty lies in the visual recognition of words. Reading is slow and word-by-word, especially for irregular words.

• Mixed dyslexia: this type combines both previous forms and often requires more personalized support.

What are the signs of dyslexia?

Symptoms of dyslexia can vary with age, but some signs often recur: difficulties in reading, writing, memorization, or concentration. These can be noticed as early as childhood and may evolve into adulthood.

Dyslexia in children

In children, dyslexia is often noticeable from the first years of learning. Here are some examples:

Difficulty associating letters with sounds (for instance, the “g” in garçon and in gentil are pronounced differently).

Slow, choppy, or reversed reading, with confusion between certain sounds (p/b, t/d).

Words written phonetically (“cloune” for clown).

Difficulty understanding what they read — the child may read without truly grasping the meaning.

Low interest in reading or writing, often due to fatigue or frustration.

Dyslexia in adults

Adult dyslexia doesn’t disappear — it evolves. People often develop coping strategies, but some challenges remain:

Slow or tiring reading, especially with long texts.

Frequent spelling mistakes or disorganized sentences.

Difficulty remembering written instructions, numbers, or dates.

Organization or concentration problems, sometimes linked to ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

A preference for visual, oral, or hands-on materials.

Weakened self-esteem caused by repeated errors.

Good to know: there are now assistive tools such as dyslexia-friendly fonts (like OpenDyslexic or Lexie Readable) that make reading easier by adjusting letter shapes and word spacing.

What causes dyslexia?

Dyslexia has multiple origins and, for example, a hereditary component: when one parent is affected, the child has a higher likelihood of being affected too. Around 40 to 60% of children from a family with dyslexia will develop a form of it.

From a neurological point of view, brain imaging shows different activity in the regions responsible for processing sounds and words explaining why reading requires more effort.

Finally, the environment also plays a role: a lack of linguistic stimulation during childhood isn’t a direct cause but can worsen difficulties. Conversely, an environment rich in interaction, support, and learning encourages the development of compensatory strategies.

Dyslexia or dysorthography?

Dyslexia and dysorthography are often linked but refer to different things.

Dyslexia affects reading: recognizing, decoding, and understanding written words.

Dysorthography affects writing and spelling: people write words as they hear them, omit letters, or invert sounds.

Both disorders are based on the same language mechanisms, which is why they often occur together. However, one can be dysorthographic without being dyslexic.

The distinction between dyslexia and dysorthography is therefore important for tailoring support such as speech therapy, digital tools, or specialized educational assistance.

Conclusion

Dyslexia is not an obstacle, but another way of perceiving and learning. Whether it appears in childhood or adulthood, it reminds us that access to reading and information is not equal for everyone. With the right tools, better understanding, and more inclusive design, we can make the digital world more welcoming for all.

Web accessibility is, above all, about making everyday life a little easier for those living with disorders such as dyslexia.

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