Allergy of written letters

This article includes elements of parody in it, and shouldn't be taken too seriously. Further disclaimers/explanations at the end of the article.

Know mostly as being dimwitted, slow, ignorant, stubborn, fooling around, "not-trying-hard-enough", "it-really-isn't-that-difficult" and "you-are-just-playing-stupid", there is condition mixed to humanoids whom these words are made to refer to, that gnomish scholars have aptly named as "Allergy of written letters". This condition is believed by said scholars to affect a sizable proportion of the population in varying degrees though it is sometimes rather difficult to tell from individuals which one has the condition and which one is having "the attitude."

Transmission & Vectors

On some circles, it is believed that being around people with this condition can transmit their dimwits to people around them, though there hasn't been any real proof of that.

Causes

Allergy of written letters is generally believed to be caused by "something between one's ears," thorough explanations and attitudes towards it vary greatly. Some things condition is believed to be caused by include:

Intelligence deficiency, stubbornness, madness, restless soul, too quick thoughts, arrogance, failure of character, bad breeding, neglectful parents, lousy attitude, anxiety, need for attention, free-spiritedness, lack of education, dropping one on their head one too many times, etc.

On some creature like orcs it is believed to be part of their biology and sometimes used as proof of the inferiority of the species in question by species that consider themselves more highly educated and be of better moral standing. Some also might believe that conditions have something to do with negative aura or evil spirits.

Symptoms

Symptoms of condition will vary and can occur in different frequencies and levels of severity. A person suffering the condition can experience the following:

• Need to read the same word repeatedly, without understanding the meaning of the word. This need may happen even when the reader should be fluent in the language used.
• Feeling that letters on the paper move around, blur, bounce, or suddenly change completely unrecognizable to the reader.
• Fatique after reading a particularly difficult text. The effect is especially prominent when reading long periods, small text, or a lot of text on one page.
• Inability to concentrate what they are reading, and forgetting right after what they were reading.
• Stuttering while reading aloud.
• Hearing words wrong, or using words that sound similar to words they wanted to use or constantly forgetting words.
• Inability to recognize and remember words or names (specially names).
• Confusing words to one another.
• Mixing up letter- or words orders.
• Having a loose association between words, using quirky descriptions of things by making unique-sounding (or silly) phrases or making up words
• Terrible handwriting.

While often considered to be connected to low intelligence, the gnomish scholars have suggested that condition doesn't necessarily have any effect on individuals intelligence, but can appear in both smart and dumb individuals. This claim is often considered as absurd by academics of other races, as most what is called in academic circles by the term "gnomish nonsense".
Despite the skepticism, there are a group of scholars beyond gnomish ones that think there might be truth to these claims. It is often suggested among them if this skepticism has more to do with the insecurity of the skeptics to admit that talent with words doesn't equate to intelligence.

Treatment

It is widely believed that education, smacking, shouting at, scoffing at and ridiculing someone with the condition could further push them out of their problems, but so far there is very little significant proof of any real effect. On the side of alternative treatments encouragement, alternative learning, patience, hard work, and relieving stress from the sufferer has shown promising signs of improving the life quality of the sufferer.

Cultural Reception

Humanoid species that put very little weight on writing and language usually do not view the condition even as condition, but ignore its existence. With more educated races, however, reception is far more complicated.
For dwarfs, elves and humans as long as person has a low enough rank in society, condition might be ignored, or even celebrated, as it shows the more educated, higher ranking citizens in better light than their less educated peers. For anyone looking for or born in to status, however, condition is disaster and often seen as mental sickness or other deficit.
The condition can be considered extremely shameful and is often hidden from the public eye. This factor comes particularly tricky when the condition seems to run in families: parents with the same condition whom themselves have been shunned might have very little remorse and empathy towards children with the same condition, often telling them "just try harder, that's just as hard for everybody." Halflings see the condition unfortunate, but rarely make number out of it, at least publicly.
Gnomes, to discomfort of other more learned races, have their own view of the condition. They see it more as a personality trait, and while the condition is known as troublesome, they are far more quickly going to find someone to read or write for the individual or accept messier notes and handwriting.

"Oh, you know, Quebi, they are just allergic to written letters!"

Despite of their condition, some of those having it have gotten far in life very first Archamage of Silver Shore Academy of Magi, Yodira Pyrocrystal, famously wrote so messily and had such hard time writing that the first Keeper of Keys and later second archmage of same academy, Kelfir Windwhisper, wrote clean most of her work. Despite on this, she was seen as one of the great evocators of her time.

Type

Mental

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired & Congenital

Rarity

Uncommon

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Out of Character

In our world, the same condition might be considered a neurological one, and have entirely different name. On the general census, it might not be even considered as dangerous, evil or immoral in any way, but merely a quirk of personality and difference in learning.

Disclaimer

Author of it article suffers from the real-life version of the condition and has some dark sense of humor about it. As such, I hope not to cause any offense to anyone whom the subject might be touchy. This article was all done in good fun, as satire cleanses my soul.

Consider this article as my way to display the absurdity of the world's reactions in the past to learning difficulties of all kinds. Luckily, the world is getting and has already gotten so much better at understanding these issues, and let's hope that as years go on we find more amazing, healthy solutions how to make learning better for everyone involved!