When factors such as limited intelligence; poor eyesight or hearing; undeveloped emotional and physical capacity; improper teaching; and unstable circumstances at home are involved (as is the case with dyslexia), getting tested for a learning disability is extremely important. Problems in reading are not outgrown, so the longer one waits to intercede, the more remedial and less preventative the situation becomes.

In the past, there has been some confusion over the definition of dyslexia. Originally, dyslexia was used to define disorders connected to the nervous system. Then, not only problems associated with reading, but also spelling and writing difficulties were referred to as dyslexia.  Dyslexia came to simply mean "poor reading". Because of the uncertainty, many educators prefer not to categorize people with reading problems as having dyslexia. Dyslexia affects the central nervous system due to emotional, motivational, environmental and physical elements. It interrupts the brain's ability to recognize written material. Individuals who suffer from dyslexia will have limited reading, spelling, and writing abilities.