What is dyslexia characterized by?

Dyslexia is characterized primarily by a difficulty with single word reading, which is a hallmark of this neurological learning disability. Individuals with dyslexia often struggle to decode words accurately and fluently, which hampers their reading ability. This challenge can manifest as difficulty in recognizing written words, associating sounds with letters (phonemic awareness), and other reading-related tasks.

While dyslexia can affect spelling and writing, it is specifically the difficulty with reading single words that distinguishes it. This may include confusing similar-looking words, difficulty with word retrieval, and challenges in processing the alphabetical and phonetic aspects of language.

The other options do not accurately represent dyslexia. A higher-than-average reading ability does not align with the definition of dyslexia, as individuals with dyslexia usually have below-average reading skills. A speech production issue is not exclusive to dyslexia and can involve various conditions unrelated to reading abilities. Lastly, an inability to understand spoken language is more characteristic of different types of learning disabilities or language disorders, rather than dyslexia itself, which primarily affects reading rather than overall language comprehension.