Which disorder is characterized by pronounced difficulty with reading despite having normal intelligence?

Dyslexia is a specific learning disorder that is characterized by a significant difficulty in reading, despite having average or above-average intelligence. Individuals with dyslexia may struggle with various aspects of reading, such as decoding words, recognizing words automatically, and understanding the meaning of text.

The underlying issue in dyslexia often relates to the way the brain processes written language. People with this condition might have challenges with phonemic awareness (the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken words) and phonological processing (the ability to connect sounds to letters). Importantly, these difficulties are not indicative of any other intellectual disability, which is why individuals with dyslexia can display normal intelligence.

This distinguishes dyslexia from other disorders listed, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, which affects social interaction and communication skills; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which primarily influences attention regulation and impulsivity; and Auditory Processing Disorder, where the challenge lies in the brain's ability to process auditory information rather than directly affecting reading skills.