A cross-sectional study on awareness of dyslexia disorder among university students

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The condition of dyslexia is a learning disability leading to difficulty in acquiring basic skills of reading, spelling, and writing. It is a disorder with a neurological origin that does not affect the intelligence of a person. It is estimated that between 5% and 10% of the population suffering from dyslexia, but this number can also be as high as 17% because dyslexia may not be recognized and diagnosed in some individuals and because some of them may not disclose that they are diagnosed. In Malaysia, it is estimated that 4% to 8% of children attending school have dyslexia. Dyslexics tend to be more artistic and creative than others. AIM: This study examines the awareness of dyslexia disorder among university students. METHODS: The data are collected from the participants through self-made survey questionnaires that consist of 25 questions per questionnaire. A descriptive cross-sectional study is conducted from April 2019 to May 2019. RESULTS: The current study reflected that dyslexia, not a disease, thus it is not curable. Individuals with dyslexia require extra patience and effort from the family members, teachers, as well as the public, especially in their learning process. We believe that a lack of understanding about this disorder by the public will bring negative impacts to dyslexic individuals such as causing unwanted misunderstanding, causing mental stress to the dyslexics, bringing negative impact to their learning processes, and so on. CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that the knowledge level of dyslexia among university students considered as lower than average.