If your child is having difficulty reading and writing, there is a chance they may have dyslexia. Without a professional assessment, some children may not know they have dyslexia.

This learning difficulty makes it hard for a person to decode words, which can hamper their development in school. Dyslexia can be challenging to diagnose at first because children are often unaware there is a problem and some parents may think reading and writing difficulties are related to eye issues such as farsightedness. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, however it is important to note there is no connection between dyslexia and a child's intelligence. The disorder affects people of all intelligence levels and reading ability is linked more closely to the severity of dyslexia than intelligence.

While an optometrist may be able to prescribe glasses to assist with reading and writing difficulties caused by other conditions, there is little evidence for their widespread use in dyslexia. If you believe your child may have dyslexia, it is important to seek the advice of a professional trained and qualified in this area, such as a psychologist or speech pathologist.