While one might reasonably think that all children live their lives in a mess, this is particularly so for dyslexic children and students. They often have real difficulties with planning and thinking ahead to when a book or pen might be needed next (Dyslexia Symptoms in a Dyslexic Pupil or Student, n.d.). A very bright child who has dyslexia may not be identified until later because they are able to compensate enough to maintain average grades. Usually by the fourth grade, when the task changes from learning to read to reading to learn, they will begin to fall behind. Some students with dyslexia may be able to get by until high school or college before they encounter significant problems. Failure to recognize dyslexia can lead to significant frustration, loss of motivation for school, depression, and lifelong educational and occupational underachievement (Dyslexia, 2009).

Dyslexia is a very difficult disorder to diagnose. There are many things that a psychologist or other health professional reviews in order to diagnose the disability. The testing that is done determines the child's functional reading level and compares it to reading potential, which is evaluated by an intelligence test. All facets of the reading process are examined to pinpoint where the breakdown is occurring. The testing additionally looks at how a child takes in and processes information and what the child does with the information. The tests are used to determine whether a child learns better by hearing information (auditory), looking at information (visual), or doing something (kinesthetic). They also determine whether a child performs better when allowed to give information by saying something or by doing something with their hands. The tests also assess how all of these sensory systems (modalities) work in conjunction with each other (Dyslexia, 2010).

Treatment for dyslexia consists of using educational tools in order to enhance a person's ability to read. Medicines and counseling are not used to treat dyslexia. An important part of treatment is educating oneself about the condition. The sooner that dyslexia is recognized and addressed, the better off a person is. Beginning treatment when a child is young can improve reading...

But reading will most likely always be hard for a person with dyslexia (Dyslexia - Treatment Overview, (2008).
According to a complete U.S. government study on how children learn to read, a mixture of educational methods is the most effective way that to teach children to read. These techniques include teaching phonics-making sure that the beginning reader understands how letters are linked to sounds to form words. Steer oral reading, in which the student reads aloud with guidance and feedback, is also important for developing reading fluency. The student must clearly understand the instructions being given, and the instructions must be repeatable or systematic in order to improve the child's reading abilities (Dyslexia - Treatment Overview, (2008).

It is important to know dyslexia is a lifelong condition. Even though early treatment during childhood can help, a child will likely always have to make an extra effort to read (Dyslexia - Treatment Overview, (2008). There have many people who have overcome their dyslexia and have lived very normal lives. Two of these people are Henry Winkler and Robin Williams (Symptoms of Dyslexia, 1998). Both of these people have managed to work through their dyslexia and have very successful acting careers. A person cannot tell by looking that either one of these people have this disorder.