Dyslexia Specialists

Warning Signs of Dyslexia

 

 

In Preschool

 

• delayed speech

• chronic ear infections

• stuttering

• constant confusion of left versus right

• late to establish 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

 

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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, etc)

• ignores suffixes

• can’t sound out unknown words

• terrible spelling

• inability to memorize or retain spelling words

• often can’t remember sight words (they, were, does) or homonyms (their, there, they’re)

• difficulty telling time on 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, desk

• dreads going to school

  • complains of stomach aches or headaches

  • may have nightmares about school

 

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In High School

All of the symptoms above plus:

 

• limited vocabulary

• extremely poor written expression

  • large discrepancy between verbal skills and written composition

• unable to master foreign language

• difficulty reading printed music

• poor grades in many classes

• may drop out of high school

 

 

In Adults

Educational 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

 

Used by permission of Susan Barton and Bright Solutions for Dyslexia