What is the term for the acquired inability to read?

The acquired inability to read is referred to as Alexia. This condition typically arises following brain injury, particularly in areas responsible for language processing, such as those in the left hemisphere, which includes the angular gyrus. Individuals with Alexia may have preserved writing abilities, as this disorder specifically affects reading skills while leaving other cognitive functions relatively intact.

Agraphia, in contrast, pertains to the loss of the ability to write, which differs fundamentally from reading. Apraxia is related to motor planning difficulties, affecting the ability to perform purposeful movements, but is not specific to reading or writing. Dyslexia is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with reading, typically stemming from persistent phonological processing issues, and is not acquired through brain injury but rather present from an early age. Therefore, Alexia is distinctly defined as the acquired reading impairment resulting from neurological damage.