This document lists several potential causes of reading difficulties: auditory deficits, dyspraxia, short-term memory limitations, ADHD, word blindness, stress spirals, and Irlen syndrome. It describes how some causes can lead to early success in reading followed by a plateau between ages 6-9, wild guessing, and a collapse of confidence as text gets more complex. Other causes result in an ability to read words but difficulty with sentences, problems decoding long words, and an inability to follow meaning.

1. CAUSES OF
READING
DIFFICULTIES

2.  Auditory Deficit
 Dyspraxia
 Short-Term
Memory Capacity
Limitations
 ADHD
 Word Blindness
 Stress Spirals
 Irlen Syndrome

3.  early success in reading, followed by
rising frustration as the child ends up on a
reading plateau between the ages of 6 and
9.
 wild guessing and a slow collapse of
confidence as the text gets more complex.

4.  ability to
read single
words, but
great
difficulty
with
sentences

5. slow great
difficulty
deco- with long
ding words
of little
ability to
words follow the
meaning
of the
sentence

7. lack of focus,
restless fidgeting
and being easily
distracted

9. the text to be
read out aloud
without it being
understood at
all.

10.  ability to read that can dissolve as mistakes
are made, frustration rises and a failure-
stress-failure spiral develops. That will lead
to rising emotions potentially with
aggression, defensiveness or a sullen
lethargy.

12. complaining of the
text "moving
around"
on the page

14. Kiss the Earth
by: Thich Nhat Hanh
Walk and touch peace every
moment.
Walk and touch happiness every
moment.
Each step brings a fresh breeze.
Each step makes a flower bloom.
Kiss the Earth with your feet.
Bring the Earth your love and
happiness.
The Earth will be safe
when we feel safe in ourselves.