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Warning Signs of Dyslexia

If a child has 3 or more of the following warning signs, encourage that child's parents and teachers to learn more about dyslexia.

In 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

In 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

In 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 (at, to, of)
    --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"
    --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

     

In 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

Copyright © 2002 by Susan Barton. Used with permission from Bright Solutions for Dyslexia. www.BrightSolutions.US

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