Signs of Dyslexia

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In Preschool:

• delayed speech 

• mixing up the sounds and syllables in long words 

• 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

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 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