Warning Signs of Dyslexia
If your child has 3 or more of the following warning signs, dyslexia may be the cause of their struggles. Please learn more about dyslexia by watching the videos below.
Preschool
• delayed speech
• mixing up the sounds and syllables in long words
• chronic ear infections
• stuttering
• constant confusion of left versus right
• late establishing a dominant hand
• difficulty learning to tie shoes
• trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet
• can’t create words that rhyme
• a close relative with dyslexia
Elementary School
• dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read)
• letter or number reversals continuing past the end of first grade
• extreme difficulty learning cursive
• slow, choppy, inaccurate reading: guesses based on shape or context; skips or misreads prepositions; ignores suffixes
• can’t sound out unknown words
• terrible spelling
• often can’t remember sight words (they, were, does) or homonyms (their, they’re, and there)
• difficulty telling time with a clock with hands
• trouble with math: memorizing multiplication tables; memorizing a sequence of steps; directionality
• when speaking, difficulty finding the correct word: lots of “whatyamacallits” and “thingies”
• when speaking, common sayings come out slightly twisted
• extremely messy bedroom, backpack, and desk
• dreads going to school - complains of stomach aches or headaches - may have nightmares about school
High School
All of the above symptoms plus:
• limited vocabulary
• extremely poor written expression: large discrepancy between verbal skills and written compositions
• unable to master a foreign language
• difficulty reading printed music
• poor grades in many classes
• may drop out of high school
Adults
Education history similar to above, plus:
• slow reader
• may have to read a page 2 or 3 times to understand it
• terrible speller
• difficulty putting thoughts onto paper - dreads writing memos or letters
• still has difficulty with right versus left
• often gets lost, even in a familiar city
• sometimes confuses b and d, especially when tired or sick
Reprinted with prior written permission from Susan Barton, Founder of Bright Solutions for Dyslexia