Dyslexia is a cognitive impairment that frustrates a child's ability to read by causing a disruption in the brain's ability to interpret images and sounds. Dyslexia affects up to six percent of children. Children with dyslexia often exhibit difficulty concentrating for extended periods of time, reverse letters when reading or spelling a word, have confusion between left and right and also may have poor handwriting.
Some children afflicted with a speech disorder known as apraxia, or verbal dyspraxia, are at a higher risk of developing problems with reading fluency than other children. Apraxia is a neurological condition that temporarily paralyzes a child's ability to speak even though he attempts to do so. Researchers believe that children with apraxia are inhibited from fully utilizing phonic sounds as part of their speech recognition. As phonics are an integral component of learning to read, apraxia may disadvantage afflicted children in literacy skills.
A child's reading level may also be impacted by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), both of which impact concentration. As reading requires a sustained period of concentration, any condition which adversely affects a child's ability to focus will hinder literacy development. ADHD and ADD can be treated with medication or therapy to mitigate the effects of the condition.
One of the most important influences on a child's development of reading skills is their learning environment and study habits. Children who are read to by their parents, and who are also encouraged to read as a leisure activity, will develop strong reading skills. Additionally, the learning environment at school and the study environment at home are crucial in creating healthy reading habits.