MODEL RELEASED. Dyslexia. Boy holding up Scrabble letters spelling the word dyslexia. Dyslexia, sometimes called word blindness, is a developmental disorder affecting a child's ability to read and write. It does not indicate low intelligence and may be present, to some degree, in one person in twenty. Dyslexia can create serious educational problems. Treatment includes encouraging children to practise reading and writing skills as much as possible, at an early age.