Reading With Success, LLC

Dyslexia

Warning Signs of Dyslexia

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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 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 Adults

Education history similar to above, plus:

  • Slow reader

  • May have to read a page two or three 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

Reused with Permission from Susan Barton.

Copyright © 2002 by Susan Barton. All Rights Reserved.

In Preschool

  • Delayed speech

  • Mixing up the sounds and syllables in long words

  • 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 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