Signs of Dyslexia

Yorkshire Rose Dyslexia

Schoolchildren

Signs of dyslexia usually become more obvious when children start school and begin to focus more on learning how to read and write. Some signs of dyslexia in children aged 5 to 12 are:

• problems learning the names and sounds of letters
• spelling that is unpredictable and inconsistent
• putting letters and figures the wrong way round (such as writing “6” instead of “9”, or “b” instead of “d”)
• confusing the order of letters in words
• reading slowly or making errors when reading aloud
• visual disturbances when reading (for example, a child may describe letters and words as seeming to move around or appear blurred)
• answering questions well orally, but having difficulty writing the answer down
• difficulty carrying out a sequence of directions
• struggling to learn sequences, such as days of the week or the alphabet
• slow writing speed
• poor handwriting
• problems copying written language and taking longer than normal to complete written work

Teenagers and adults

As well as the problems mentioned above, the symptoms of dyslexia in older children and adults can include:

• poorly organised written work that lacks expression (for example, even though they may be very knowledgeable about a certain subject, they may have problems expressing that knowledge in writing)
• difficulty planning and writing essays, letters or reports
• difficulties revising for examinations
• trying to avoid reading and writing whenever possible
• difficulty taking notes or copying
• poor spelling
• struggling to remember things such as a PIN or telephone number
• struggling to meet deadlines

Getting help

If you’re concerned about your child’s progress with reading and writing, first talk to their teacher. If you or your child’s teacher has an ongoing concern, do consider having their vision and hearing checked to see if there are any underlying problems. An assessment by a specialist teacher could then be carried out and different teaching methods may need to be tried. More information can be found on the BDA website.

Don’t hesitate to contact our Helpliners if you have any questions or concerns.