31 Interesting Facts About Dyslexia

As we wrap up Dyslexia Awareness Month (October), we are sharing 31 interesting
facts and stats about the neurobiological disorder The Yale Center for Dyslexia &
Creativity defines as an “unexpected difficulty in learning to read. Dyslexia takes away
an individual’s ability to read quickly and automatically and to retrieve spoken words
easily, but it does not dampen their creativity and ingenuity.”

1. October is Dyslexia Awareness Month to raise annual awareness through events
and resources for families, employers, teachers, and community members
across the country.

2. In 1877, Adolf Kussmaul, a German neurologist, was the first person to identify a
phenomenon called, word blindness. Ten years later, a German physician coined
the term, dyslexia, to describe what Kussmaul referred to as a difficulty in
reading.

3. An estimated 20% of the population has dyslexia.

4. Early signs of dyslexia may include difficulty in rhyming, recognizing letters, and
challenges with phonemic awareness.

5. Intervention is vital as dyslexia signs can be detected as early as 4 years old.

6. Boys are three times more likely than girls to receive a dyslexia diagnosis.

7. People with dyslexia often have above-average intelligence, with 35% having an
IQ above 120.

8. The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity stands as the premier research
institution dedicated to advancing our understanding of dyslexia and advocating
for transformative approaches to support dyslexic individuals.

9. Dyslexia is a neurbiological disorder rooted in differences with brain structure and
language processing.

10.Without proper therapy, dyslexic individuals are 2.4 times more likely to drop out
of high school than their peers.

11. 87% of teachers report feeling inadequately trained to support dyslexic students.

12. Adults with untreated dyslexia face an unemployment rate of 23%, which is
significantly higher than the national average.

13. In 1985, Texas passed a law requiring schools to test for dyslexia and adjust
accordingly.

14. Dyslexia is a lifelong condition, but with the proper therapy and tools, individuals
can overcome challenges and succeed in every area of their lives.

15. Individuals with untreated dyslexia are twice as likely to struggle with substance
abuse issues.

16. Approximately 48% of incarcerated individuals have dyslexia, significantly higher
than the general population.

17. LDA reports that dyslexia constitutes 80% of all learning disabilities.

18. Dyslexia often coexists with ADHD, affecting 35-45% of dyslexic individuals.

19. Individuals with untreated dyslexia are 2.5 times more likely to experience
depression and anxiety.

20. With early intervention, the success rate for dyslexic students to achieve
grade-level reading is 90-95%.

21. Dyslexics are overrepresented among inventors, entrepreneurs, and creative
geniuses.

22. Individuals with dyslexia often excel in visual arts, music, athletics and
entrepreneurship.

23.Assistive technologies, such as text-to-speech software, are highly beneficial for
people with dyslexia.

24.Scottish Rite for Children, based in Dallas, passionately empowers children with
dyslexia through specialized programs and interventions, providing personalized
support to enhance their literacy skills and overall academic success.

25. People with untreated dyslexia typically read 25-50% slower than their peers.

26. Dyslexia makes up about $225 billion of lost productivity and treatment
expenses in the U.S.

27. Dyslexia often coexists with dysgraphia, a condition affecting handwriting and
fine motor skills.

28. While dyslexia is not determined by heredity, genetics do play a part.

29. Accommodations at school are available, by law, for all children who have a
dyslexia diagnosis.

30. The Health Museum in downtown Houston hosts a monthly Dyslexia Simulations
Exhibit FREE to all museum guests. To learn more, visit:
https://thehealthmuseum.org/event/dyslexia-simulations

31. The best learning center for dyslexia therapy in The Greater Houston Area is
Dyslexia School of Houston, voted by The Houston Chronicle two years in a row
(2022, 2023).

To learn more about dyslexia and the resources provided at Dyslexia School of
Houston, please follow along with us on social media at @dyslexiaschoolhtx.