Research abstract

Can we say “dyslexia”?

Stigma and stereotypes censor us more than we realize. Have you ever questioned something you said and wondered if it were offensive? Perhaps if people let go of the mythical taboo, we would be able to assist struggling learners with a better set of tools. By Preet Mankad

Laura Lurns Last updated June 4, 2017 · 2 min read

Dyslexia is a term that many people and organizations, especially school systems, regard in a very negative way. They often claim to not have the time, resources and professionals to be able to deal with this “difficulty” though this claim can be understood in one way, which is often a cop out by these organizations and/or people. This “difficulty” need not be considered a “death sentence” for the education of this child. Instead, with patience, hard work, and a little bit of luck, children and even adults with this “difficulty” can make marked improvements over time. School districts need to stop treating this as a near fatal diagnosis and take it case by case. Many people just need a little extra time or some extra attention and the results will be there!

Over the last several decades, language scientists have developed clear and specific procedures for identifying dyslexia and differentiating it from other types of learning problems.

I have known people with dyslexia and there is nothing wrong with them and often times, they are high intelligent individuals. With some extra time and patience, these people do fine in a traditional classroom or work place environment. It is time that society stops treating these people like they have a communicable disease and just accepts their short-comings and move on from there. There is nothing with making some exceptions for these people instead of treating them like they are dumb or stupid. That is a big pet peeve or mine as often these people are highly intelligent.

Key takeaways

Scientists have developed a complex system to identify and classify learning differences.
Most teachers are not trained on this complex system of identification and classification.
This leaves parents with the sole responsibility of ensuring that their child gets the support they need.

Is your child struggling in school?

Get your free personalized learning roadmap

You describe what you see at home. We turn it into a plan you start this week.

Answer 5 short questionnaires about what you already notice, 30–45 minutes at your own kitchen table
Your child sits no test and gets no score: nothing to schedule, nothing for them to dread
You do the answering, the AI does the writing, and a person reviews it before it reaches you
Access all 40+ courses instantly: reading, math, focus, processing and more, with new ones added regularly

Why we use AI, plainly: it writes from a knowledge base our team maintains and audits. We work through it line by line and pull anything the evidence stops supporting. The roadmap you get on Tuesday reflects what we corrected on Monday, and a human still reads it before you do.

Your school district must evaluate your child free of charge if you ask in writing, whatever your income and whatever the outcome (US, 34 CFR 300.111 and 300.301(b)). That route takes time and answers a different question than you do. This one starts today, from what you already know.

Get my free assessment & 7-day trial Cancel anytime during your trial.

Your answers stay yours. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not hand identifiable assessment data to outside AI companies to train their models.

A screener is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your child might need formal accommodations (an IEP or 504 plan), or you suspect a vision, hearing or medical cause, pursue a professional evaluation too. That is the only route to those supports.

Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert Writes about the learning brain for parents who want plain answers. Every article is grounded in current neuroscience and classroom practice.

Over the last several decades, language scientists have developed clear and specific procedures for identifying dyslexia and differentiating it from other types of learning problems.

Key takeaways

Is your child struggling in school?

Keep reading