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


In Elementary School

  • dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read)
  • letter or number reversals continuing past the end of the 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

No two people with dyslexia are exactly alike because dyslexia ranges from mild to moderate to severe to profound. Therefore, someone with dyslexia may not have every single symptom listed below. But they will have many of them. If someone struggles with spelling, is a slow reader who has a difficult time sounding out unknown words, and has difficulty getting their great thoughts down on paper in acceptable form, AND that person has 3 or more of these classic warning signs, it is worth getting that person tested for dyslexia. These problems are unexpected when compared to the person's proven abilities in other areas.

WARNING SIGNS OF DYSLEXIA


NOTE:
Words jiggling, moving, disappearing, or blurring on a page is not a sign of dyslexia.  This is a sign of Irlen Syndrome. Click here to find out more about this condition.

If you suspect dyslexia - don't delay - get help immediately!!


Waiting is the worst thing you can do.


"If your child has trouble in the early levels of school, get help immediately! Do not wait to see if the child will grow out of it.

Prevention is always easier than remediation, and learning differences don't disappear spontaneously.

If you worry that receiving extra help will make your child feel different, forget it. Your child already feels different by virtue of what he can and cannot do."   ~ Patricia Vail, author of 9 books on learning disabilities. 

In High School
Any of the preschool/elementary symptoms plus:

  • limited vocabulary
  • extremely poor written expression
  • large discrepancy between verbal skills and written composition
  • unable to master a foreign language
  • difficulty reading printed music
  • poor grades in many classes
  • may drop out of high 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

Tutoring that works!