What term describes a child's inability to read due to difficulties in processing language sounds?

The term that describes a child's inability to read due to difficulties in processing language sounds is dyslexia. Dyslexia is a specific learning disability characterized by challenges with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. This condition arises from a deficit in the phonological components of language, which means that children with dyslexia have trouble connecting sounds (phonemes) to their corresponding letters or groups of letters (graphemes). This phonological processing difficulty directly impacts their ability to read, spell, and sometimes write.

Understanding that dyslexia specifically relates to reading difficulties emphasizes the importance of phonemic awareness in literacy. The challenges presented by dyslexia are not due to a general lack of intelligence or a lack of educational opportunities; rather, they stem from specific neurobiological factors that affect language processing.

In contrast, dysgraphia refers to difficulties in writing, ADHD relates to attention difficulties that affect learning, and speech disorders pertain to issues with articulation and fluency rather than reading specifically. Therefore, it is clear that dyslexia is the most accurate and relevant term in this context for describing difficulties in reading linked to language sound processing.