Frequently Asked Questions and Resources
What does the word dyslexia mean?
The word dyslexia comes from two Greek words: dys which means "difficulty with" and lexia which means "language". The dyslexic individual has challenges wit spelling, reading written language and sometimes with math and spoken language.
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities.
These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
Could my child have dyslexia?
Typical characteristics of dyslexia or a specific learning disability in reading:
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Difficulty saying the alphabet correctly in sequence
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Difficulty forming the shapes of the letters
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Difficulty writing the alphabet correctly in sequence
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Errors in naming letters
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Reversals of orientation of letters or sequences of letters in words when read or written:
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e - g, b - d, was - saw, quite - quiet
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Difficulty in learning and remembering printed words
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Repeated spelling errors
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Difficulty with handwriting
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Slow rate of writing
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Difficulty with reading comprehension
How common is dyslexia?
Fifteen (15) to twenty (20) percent of the population has some degree of dyslexia. This is more than all other learning disabilities combined.
A person with mild dyslexia may get through life with few problems, perhaps being a little late in learning to talk and having moderate problems with learning to read and spell. Those with mild to moderate dyslexia often are not diagnosed until they reach high school or college (or even graduate school).
An individual with severe dyslexia has an obvious problem with language from an early age. These are the children who are most likely to be diagnosed early due to the severity of their symptoms.
Has anyone famous every had dyslexia?
There are many famous people who have dyslexia.
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Albert Einstein
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Thomas Alva Edison
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Robin Williams
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Tom Cruise
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Galileo
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Beethoven
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Dwight D. Eisenhower
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Isaac Newton
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Herman Melville
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President George Bush
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Robert Kennedy
For a more comprehensive list check out this article.
How do I apply to Compass Reading Center?
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CONSULT your child's home school district for testing
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Get a DIAGNOSIS from a school psychologist, clinical psychologist, or a medical doctor trained to diagnose specific learning disabilities.
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SUBMIT an application to Compass Reading Center and attach testing results. Click here to download an application.
How do we get a diagnosis?
Talk to your child's school first. Read about dyslexia. We have listed books and web sites that we recommend in the FAQ section below on this page.
A formal evaluation by trained professionals must be conducted to diagnose dyslexia. Sometimes a child's school is able to conduct the necessary testing, and sometimes testing needs to be done by outside specialists (at a hospital or through a clinical psychologist). Organizations such as the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) can help locate a specialist in your area.
Is there a waiting list?
Yes, applications are placed on a waiting list without regard for ethnicity, gender, religious or financial considerations.
Where do the tutoring sessions take place?
Tutoring takes place at 4701 Old Zuck Road in a state of the art secure facility with a parent waiting room.
Links to other websites about dyslexia:
International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)
The International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation
List of books that are you can find at Compass Reading Center
General Reading -
About Dyslexia: Unraveling the Myth by Priscilla Vail (1990). Rosemont, NJ: Modern Learning Press.
Keeping A Head in School: A Student's Book about Learning Abilities and Learning Disorders by Mel Levine (1990). Cambridge, MA: Educators Publishing Service.
Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-based Program for Teaching Problems at Any Level by Sally Shawitz (2003). New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Straight Talk about Reading by Susan Hall and Louisa Moats (1999). Chicago: Contemporary Books.
for Educatoros
Dyslexia: Theory and Practice of Remedial Instruction by Diana Brewster and Joanna Uhry (1995). Baltimore, MD; York Press.
Language Tool Kit by Paula Rome and Jean Osman (1993). Cambridge, MA: Educators Publishing Service.
Many Faces of Dyslexia by Margaret Rawson (1988). Baltimore, MD: International Dyslexia Association.
Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills edited by Judith Birsh (1999). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc.
The Gillingham Manual: Remedial Training for Children with Specific Disability in Reading, Spelling and Penmanship (8th Edition) by Anna Gillingham and Bessie Stillman. Cambridge, MA: Educators Publishing Service.
Thinking and Learning About Print: A Summary by Marilyn Adams (1990). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press