Fact: Not All Dyslexic Kids have Below Average Reading Scores: An Average Reader can be Dyslexic

 Summary of a statement by Dr. Sally Shaywitz of the Yale Center for Dyslexia

The foundation and basis of dyslexia resides in a comparison between a person’s reading (accuracy or fluency) and his intelligence, level of education, or professional status.  Dyslexia at its core and in its definition is a disparity within the person, not comparing one person to another.  For example, for a second-year medical student with an IQ of 140 and reading at 100, that is a huge disparity—one not characterizing fellow medical students who may have a similar IQ of 140 and also reading at about that level.  This individual has the cognitive ability to master complex and very difficult conceptual material within a college, graduate or professional school curriculum despite having impaired reading fluency due to a neurobiological disruption in the neural systems for rapid reading and suffers the result of extremely slow and effortful reading.  The average person with the same reading difficulties would not be able to master the curriculum of medical school.  Thus, interpreting the law to mean that, if you are reading at the level of an average person, then you are not disabled, is not appropriate for dyslexia.

Dyslexia is conceptualized as an encapsulated weakness resulting in slow reading surrounded by a sea of strengths.  It is the sea of strengths in thinking and reasoning that, together with the accommodation of extra time, allows a slow-reading but good-thinking dyslexic to succeed.  The accommodation of extra time on tests levels the playing the field, allowing the hardworking dyslexic to access his strengths and demonstrate his knowledge. (http://dyslexia.yale.edu)