Posted October 23, 2024 in Articles
Dyslexia is a learning difference that impacts a person's ability to process language. This can result in challenges with identifying sounds, connecting them to letters and words, and ultimately, struggling with spelling, word recognition, and reading comprehension. It affects approximately one in five people in the United States.
If you've ever wondered whether your child has dyslexia, you're not alone. Recognizing the signs of dyslexia is crucial for getting them the support they need. Learn about the signs that could indicate a need for testing.
Signs of Dyslexia: Ages 2-4
- Difficulty pronouncing words
- Uses general terms to describe specific objects and/or adds new vocabulary slowly
- Trouble with the alphabet and letter sounds
- Difficulty recalling song lyrics, days of the week, colors, numbers, or shapes
- Struggles to write their name
- Problems following multi-step directions
- Slow development of fine motor skills
- Retells events out of order
Signs of Dyslexia: Ages 5-8
- Loves to listen to stories, but avoids reading on their own
- Difficulty learning letters and recalling their sounds
- Substitutes words when reading, and often relies on accompanying pictures
- Difficulty separating or blending sounds, as well as identifying words that rhyme
- Frequent errors including reversing, inverting, and substituting letters/words
- Confuses sight words: at, to, said, and, the, etc.
- Pencil grip is awkward, fist-like, or tight
- Poor fine motor skills and coordination
Signs of Dyslexia: Ages 9-12
- Reading is laborious with long pauses and repetitions
- Reverses letter sequences: soiled for solid, left for felt
- Skips over words when reading out loud
- Difficulty sounding out new words
- Trouble describing what they read or answering questions about it
- Slow to discern prefixes, suffixes, and root words
- Struggles with spelling; spells the same word differently on a single page
- Illegible handwriting
- Difficulty with planning and time management
Signs of Dyslexia: Ages 13+
- Reads slowly and/or robotically; doesn’t pause appropriately for punctuation
- Reads word-by-word rather than grouping words/phrases together smoothly
- Trouble summarizing what they’ve read or answering questions about it
- Often spells the same word differently within the same body of writing
- Procrastinates reading/writing tasks
- Finds school exhausting
- Many missing or incomplete assignments
- May not have difficulty in math, but struggles with word problems
- Trouble learning a foreign language
Next Steps
Is your child struggling with any of these signs of dyslexia? At Lawrence School, we're committed to helping students with learning differences like dyslexia reach their full potential. Our experienced team of licensed psychologists and educators can provide the personalized support your child needs to overcome challenges and thrive academically.
Schedule a visit today to learn more about how Lawrence can make a positive difference in your child's life.