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
- severe reactions to childhood illnesses 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
- 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
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
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