Surface Alexia is a type of reading disorder that affects an individual's ability to recognize whole words. People with this condition often struggle to read familiar words by sight, relying instead on phonetic decoding, which can slow down their reading speed and comprehension. This condition typically arises from damage to specific areas of the brain responsible for visual word recognition. The disorder is often associated with lesions in the left hemisphere of the brain, particularly in the angular gyrus or occipitotemporal region. Individuals with surface alexia may still be able to read phonetically, but they find it challenging to read irregular words that do not follow standard phonetic rules. Treatment often involves targeted reading strategies to improve overall reading skills.