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.

• 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

• 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

• 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