top of page
WARNING SIGNS OF DYSLEXIA

If a child/youth/adult has 3 or more of the following warning signs & has difficulty reading and spelling.

    

                          

  •  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                           

  • trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet          

  • difficulty learning to tie shoes                                   

  •  can’t create words that rhyme

  •  a close relative with dyslexia

 

IN PRESCHOOL

IN HIGH SCHOOL

​

All of the previous 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 ELEMENTARY
                                                            

  •  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 sequencing 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 ADULTS

 

Education history similar to above, plus:

  • slow reader

  • may have to read a page 2 or 3 times to understand it

  • terrible spellers

  • 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

SOURCES

Bright Solutions for Dyslexia

International Dyslexia Association

WHAT IS DYSLEXIA - PRESENTED BY CHERYL HOFFMANN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
contact
bottom of page