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Yahoo! Health defines dyslexia as "a reading disability resulting from a defect in the ability to process graphic symbols" and describes it as synonymous with developmental reading disorder or DRD. We found this information by clicking on the "Inside Yahoo! Match," the first result of our "dyslexia" search. The information on dyslexia was provided by Adam.com, an information syndicator specializing in health and medical content. (We always like to know our sources.) Reading on, we found a list of symptoms. The list includes difficulty in recognizing
written words, in rhyming, and in determining the meaning of simple sentences. Apparently, dyslexia, a Greek word that literally means "trouble with words," may also be accompanied by problems learning to write and perform arithmetic, and often runs in families. Remedial instruction is recommended as the best treatment for this disorder. We returned to the search results and decided to explore the diverse web sites listed in the Dyslexia category of the Yahoo! directory. On a site called Teens Helping Teens, created by and for teens with learning disabilities, we found an intelligent, compassionate description of dyslexia: ...a neurologically-based, often familial,
disorder which interferes with the acquisition and processing of language... Dyslexia is not a result of lack of motivation, sensory impairment, inadequate instructional or environmental opportunities, or other limiting conditions... Although dyslexia is life-long, individuals with dyslexia frequently respond successfully to timely and appropriate intervention. There are many methods, theories, and teaching systems for helping people with dyslexia learn to process language more effectively. The British Dyslexia Association FAQ lists some of the unique strengths of dyslexic individuals as well as the difficulties they experience.
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