Recognising the signs of dyslexia is a responsibility that falls primarily on teachers and parents. In the UK, there is no mandatory training for teachers on dyslexia.
We speak to those inside the classroom, to discuss the signs that prompt a dyslexia assessment or support.
Our latest blog invites a Primary School Teacher and a Secondary School Teacher to share their experiences in the classroom. We asked them to share what behaviour or struggles prompt them to monitor and refer a child for a dyslexia assessment.
About dyslexia
Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects the way the brain processes information. In fact, 1 in 10 people are said to be dyslexic – a large proportion of these will remain undiagnosed throughout their life.
Research suggests that if dyslexia is identified early enough and appropriate support mechanisms are put in place, a dyslexic individual will develop and prosper at the same rate as someone without it.
Only 1 in 10 teachers in the UK have a good understanding of dyslexia, according to a report by Made By Dyslexia.
Signs of Dyslexia in Primary School
As a child begins to learn to read and write, signs of dyslexia may surface. We spoke to Richeldis, a primary school teacher in Oxfordshire who has taught year groups from Reception to Year 4.
“Right from Year One (age 5/6) you can pick up on signs that children are struggling with letters, reading or writing in comparison to their peers.
“We log these concerns down and keep an eye with parents. We also discuss with parents as to whether there was a history of dyslexia in the family and then take it from there.”
Richeldis mentioned two children she’d recently taught that have dyslexia in the family and were displaying dyslexic tendencies, “Their reading is very behind, they find spelling impossible and even if they are copying work there are still difficulties either reading a word they know or writing a copied word.”
Whilst there is certainly a lot of evidence to suggest that dyslexia does run in the family, it is not guaranteed that someone will develop it. It is essentially like rolling genetic dice. One sibling may have dyslexia whilst another shows no signs at all. Read our blog Is Dyslexia Genetic?
Small changes will impact your child’s education ability and mental health. Visit our blog to read about our top 5 ways to support your childs mental health.
Trouble retaining information
Another sign of dyslexia is that children may appear to work twice as hard as others of a similar age. They may be able to listen to input but not retain the information given.
We highlighted this in our blog “Not all dyslexic superheroes move at the same speed“.
Dyslexia impacts not just reading and writing skills but also memory, coordination, and organisational abilities. A common companion for a dyslexic child is slow processing speed.
Richeldis shares “they listen to the input, you can see that they are focused but they cannot retain the information given. Or they can’t put the information down on paper but they could share it with you verbally.
We deal with this in primary by letting the children share their ideas and scribing it for them or providing them with technology to record their ideas or knowledge in a different way. “
Undiagnosed dyslexics in Secondary School
Emma is responsible for the dyslexia assessments in her school, and is a former Head of Computer Science in a Secondary School.
“There is definitely an ongoing issue. Many (children) are still coming undiagnosed from primary school. We also have a lot of ‘self-diagnosed’ students where parents have told the children that they’re dyslexic, when in fact it’s because the parents struggle with literacy. It’s very hard to unpick.”
"I don't think this child can read, do you think they could be dyslexic?
The top reason that staff will refer a child for a dyslexia assessment are:
- Behaviour and disregulation
- Refusal to read aloud in class
- Poor or messy handwriting
- Forgetful
- Struggling with instructions
The advantages of an early dyslexia assessment
The importance of an early detection of dyslexia shouldn’t be exaggerated. Dyslexia can have a profound impact on the ability to read and write and without support it can lead to a challenging education. Dyslexic children may experience social and emotional difficulties and the condition may have an impact on performance in later life such as in university or the workplace.
Dyslexia can be diagnosed in adults, not just in children. People might have struggled but the signs may have been missed or support absent. This is why it is so important to get an early diagnosis so you can access support and feel more confident.
About Dyslexia First
Dyslexia First provides first-class dyslexia assessments for children and adults across the North West.
Owner Michala Morton has worked in the field of Special Needs for over 20 years, across a wide range of educational settings, and works closely with The British Dyslexia Association and The Dyslexia Association assessing children and adults.
Based in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, Dyslexia First is conveniently accessible by train, linking to Central Liverpool, Manchester and cities within an hour’s commute.
By helping you to get the right support, a world of possibilities will open, that might not have seemed possible before.
Contact us to discuss your assessment needs on michala@dyslexia-first.co.uk or call 07711 904 589.
In conversation with Jess Sands, Entrepreneur and Dyslexia Advocate
