What is dyslexia primarily characterized by?

Dyslexia is primarily characterized by a difficulty in single word decoding, which is the ability to recognize and pronounce words accurately and fluently. This specific challenge stems from various underlying cognitive processes, such as issues with phonemic awareness, fluency, and sometimes difficulties with working memory. Individuals with dyslexia may find it challenging to connect sounds to letters or to blend sounds together to form words, which can significantly impact their reading abilities.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of dyslexia. Enhanced reading ability contradicts the primary characteristics of dyslexia, as individuals often struggle with reading rather than excel at it. High intelligence with no writing difficulties fails to recognize that dyslexia can occur across a range of intellectual capabilities and often co-exists with issues in writing. Lastly, although auditory processing skills might be relevant in the broader context of language disorders, dyslexia specifically focuses on decoding written language rather than just auditory processing. Thus, the hallmark of dyslexia is indeed the difficulty in single word decoding.