What to Look For
What are the signs of Dyslexia?
A quick method of determining whether a more detailed investigation of possible dyslexia is sensible is to use an indicator checklist – such as the ones provided below.
Look at the indicators for the age of the person you are thinking about. Also look at the indicators for the younger child. Do these still apply? Did some apply when the person was younger? If several indicators are present, further investigation is advisable. If your family has a history of dyslexia it is more likely that your child also has dyslexia.
Signs of dyslexia in Preschool
- Have a history of delays in speaking, making sentences or pronouncing words correctly.
- Have a history of ‘glue ear’ or similar early childhood difficulties.
- Find it hard to remember the names of familiar objects, e.g. spoon, cup.
- Have difficulty learning nursery rhymes.
- Have other members of the family with similar difficulties
Signs of dyslexia in a Primary School child
A primary school age child may:
- Have particular difficulty learning to read, write and spell.
- Difficulty remembering sequences such as the alphabet and months of the year.
- Have difficulty telling left from right.
- Difficulty copying accurately from the board or a textbook.
- Have difficulty remembering and following oral instructions.
- Persistent and continued reversing of letters and figures, e.g. ’15’ for ‘51’, ‘b’ for ‘d’.
- Take longer than average over written work.
- Experience lack of self-confidence and increasing frustration.
- In other ways be a bright and alert child.
How to spot dyslexia in Secondary School pupils
A secondary school age child may have:
- Inconsistent spelling.
- Difficulty with planning and writing essays.
- A tendency to get ‘tied up’ using long words, e.g. preliminary, philosophical.
- A tendency to confuse verbal instructions, places, times and dates.
- Greater difficulty in learning a foreign language.
- Low self-esteem.
- Frustration which has led to behavioural or emotional difficulties.
- Disorganised at home and school
What are the signs of dyslexia in adults?
In addition to earlier characteristics, some of which may still persist, the following signs may indicate dyslexia in an adult:
- Difficulty with map reading.
- Difficulty filling in forms and writing reports.
- Tendency to miss and confuse appointment times.
- Concerns about training or promotion.
- Difficulty structuring work schedules.
- Low opinion of capabilities.
- Constantly loses and forgets items and information.
DYSLEXIA NEWS
Our latest thoughts
A Clear Path with a Dyslexia Assessment
We are living in a world where Dyslexia is openly being talked about, with campaigns to remove the old-fashioned definition of dyslexia, replaced with the ‘can do’ approach for everyone.
Many celebrity stories are surfacing with them sharing stories of struggles in school, late diagnoses, and memorising instead of reading. Some were diagnosed in their 20’s, after years of feeling set apart from others, unable to read or study properly, often leading to behavioural issues.
A Student’s Guide to the DSA
If you or your child is going to University this Autumn and diagnosed as dyslexic, did you know that you are eligible for the Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA)?
In our Student’s Guide to the DSA, we share how you can prepare for the application process to avoid delays and get the help you need to reach your full potential.
Dyslexia-Friendly Reads for Halloween
Spooky season is almost here and many of our little ‘ghouls’ look forward to Halloween. Here at Dyslexia First we love Halloween, the dressing up and all those sweets are obviously fun but we also love it for the learning opportunities it presents.
In this blog we have collated our top Halloween themed books for dyslexic learners.