What does "word blindness" refer to?

The term "word blindness" historically refers to dyslexia, specifically the difficulties that some individuals experience in recognizing written words and processing them accurately. This condition was termed "word blindness" because it describes the struggle some individuals face in seeing and understanding words, which can lead to significant challenges in reading and literacy.

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that affects the ability to read, spell, write, and sometimes speak. It is neurological in origin and often results in a gap between a person's potential and their academic performance. The label "word blindness" captures the essence of these difficulties before the terminology evolved into the more precise language we use today to describe the condition.

Understanding that "word blindness" is an old term for dyslexia helps clarify the nature of the reading difficulties associated with this learning disability and highlights the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.