Medical dictionary

What is dyslexia?   Dyslexia is a learning difficulty, which is characterised by the patient having trouble with reading, writing, and spelling. It is thought the condition stems from a problem in the brain’s language processing. Unlike a learning disability, dyslexia does not affect intelligence, hence its categorisation of “specific learning difficulty” – in fa

What is dysmetria? Dysmetria is a medical condition in which the length between the bone segments of the legs is different. It is a common condition that affects one in three people. What are the symptoms of dysmetria? People who are over 20 years old and have dysmetria can experience various symptoms, such as: lower back pain, or; pain of different in

What is dysorthography? Dysorthography is a writing disability that develops in children as a difficulty to write words correctly and follow grammatical rules. They have difficulties with sounds and writing. This disorder tends to affect children who have other language disorders or delays, such as dyslexia. Prognosis: Dysorthography develops in childhood and it is necessary to treat

What is dyspareunia?   Dyspareunia (painful sex) is a recurrent or continuous pain in the genital or pelvic region, during or after sex. It is quite common in both men and women and can be caused by a variety of things, including an infection, or physical and psychological problems. A survey found that one in 13 women in the UK experiences painful intercourse. It is important th

What is dysphagia? Dysphagia is the medical term for a person who has swallowing difficulties. Some people cannot swallow certain foods or liquids, whilst others have trouble swallowing at all. The condition is usually caused by nerve or muscle problems, and is more common in the older generation and babies. There are three different types: Oral dysphagia – which occurs in the

What is dysphasia? Dysphasia is a language disorder that affects the ability to produce and understand spoken language. It can cause reading, writing, speech and gesturing problems. There are 3 main types: Expressive dysphasia: this affects a person’s ability to speak and articulate language coherently. It is caused by damage to the area of the brain responsible for speech pr

What is dysphonia?   Dysphonia, often known as hoarseness, is a voice impairment causing the voice to involuntarily sound raspy or strained, softer in volume or lower in pitch. It is often associated with problems in the vocal cords found in the larynx (voice box). In both children and adults, chronic aphonia (inability to produce voiced sound) may develop, which requires medical attent

What is dysthymia? Dysthymia, also called persistent depressive disorder, is a type of continuous and chronic depression. It consists of similar but less intense characteristics than those of major depression. When the patient feels a constant and lasting feeling of discouragement over time, it can affect social relationships and daily chores. What is the genera outlook like for patients

What is dystonia? Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterised by involuntary muscle contractions that cause sustained or repetitive twisting and abnormal postures. These muscle contractions can be painful and can affect various parts of the body, including the neck, limbs, face, and torso. Dystonia can range from mild to severe and can significantly impact a person's quality