8. June 2026
Are There Different Types of Dyslexia?
If you search online for types of dyslexia, you will often find a tidy list. Many websites describe four separate subtypes. This framing is common in American resources. In the UK, however, we tend to think about dyslexia rather differently.
The four types you may have read about
The four types are usually grouped together.
The first is phonological dyslexia. This describes difficulty breaking words into their individual sounds, which makes sounding out unfamiliar words hard.
The second is surface dyslexia. This describes difficulty recognising whole words by sight, so irregular spellings cause problems.
The third is a rapid naming deficit. This describes difficulty naming letters, numbers or colours quickly, which can slow reading down.
The fourth is double deficit dyslexia. This combines a phonological difficulty with a rapid naming deficit, and it is often described as the most significant profile.
How we see it in the UK
These labels can be a useful way to talk about reading. Even so, they are not part of how we assess dyslexia here. UK practice does not sort a person into one of these boxes. Instead, an assessment asks a simpler question. Does this person's profile meet the definition of dyslexia, or does it not?
This reflects how dyslexia is understood across UK education and assessment. It is seen as a continuum rather than a set of fixed categories. There is no clean line that separates one type from another. Additionally, most people show their own mix of strengths and difficulties. Two people with the same identification can look quite different in practice.
What this really tells us
What this really shows us is something important. Dyslexia is wide, varied and complex. A single label could never capture that fully. Every profile is personal to the individual. That is exactly why a careful assessment matters.
A final word
If the online lists have left you feeling confused, that is completely understandable. The picture is simpler than it first appears. The question is not which type a person has. The question is whether their profile fits the definition, and what support will help them next.
How Defining Dyslexia can help
At Defining Dyslexia, we offer full diagnostic SpLD assessments for children and adults across Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and Peterborough, with remote assessments available across the UK. Every assessment includes time at the end to talk through findings together, so you leave with a clear understanding of the results, not just a document to decipher on your own.
If you have questions about your child's scores, or you are wondering whether an assessment might be the right next step, we are happy to have an initial conversation. There is no obligation, and sometimes a short chat is all it takes to feel clearer about where to go next.
You can get in touch via the contact page at https://www.definingdyslexia.org/contact-us/