Dyslexia Warning Signs

At The Highlands School, we are dedicated to supporting children with learning differences, we understand the importance of early identification and intervention for dyslexia. Dyslexia is a common learning difference that affects reading, spelling, and writing, but with the right support, children with dyslexia can thrive academically and personally. Recognizing the early warning signs of dyslexia is crucial in providing timely and effective support.

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a neurological condition that impacts the brain’s ability to process language. It is not related to intelligence or vision problems but rather how the brain interprets and organizes information. Children with dyslexia often have difficulty with phonological processing and/or fluent word recognition, which affects their ability to decode words and spell correctly.

Early Warning Signs in Preschoolers

1. Delayed Speech Development: Children with dyslexia might start talking later than their peers or have difficulty pronouncing words correctly.
2. Trouble Learning Nursery Rhymes: Difficulty remembering or reciting common nursery rhymes and songs can be an early indicator.
3. Difficulty with Rhyming: Struggling to recognize or create rhyming words is a red flag for dyslexia.
4. Difficulty with identifying letters of the alphabet: Children with dyslexia may struggle remembering the names of letters and the sounds they make. 

Warning Signs in Elementary School Children

1. Difficulty Learning to Read: Slow progress in learning to read, trouble sounding out words, and frequent guessing instead of reading can be signs of dyslexia.
2. Spelling Challenges: Persistent spelling mistakes, inconsistent spelling of the same word, and reliance on phonetic spelling are common.
3. Problems with Reading Fluency: Reading that is slow, laborious, and filled with hesitations or frequent mispronunciations or omissions of sight words.
4. Difficulty with Sequencing: Struggling to sequence numbers, letters, days of the week, or follow multi-step directions.
5. Trouble Learning New Words: Difficulty remembering new vocabulary words or recalling the names of familiar objects.

Warning Signs in Middle and High School Students

1. Avoidance of Reading and Writing: Reluctance to read aloud, write essays, or complete reading assignments can indicate ongoing struggles.
2. Poor Spelling: Persistent issues with spelling, even with simple and familiar words.
3. Difficulty with Foreign Languages: Struggling to learn a second language, which often relies on strong phonological skills.
4. Low Self-Esteem: Frustration, anxiety, or a lack of confidence in academic settings due to repeated struggles with reading and writing tasks.
5. Organizational Issues: Problems with organizing thoughts for writing, maintaining a clean workspace, or managing time effectively.

When to Seek Help

If you notice any of these warning signs in your child, it is important to seek help from a professional who specializes in learning differences. Early assessment and intervention can make a significant difference in your child’s academic and emotional well-being. At The Highlands School, we offer FREE dyslexia screenings. Click HERE to sign up for a FREE dyslexia screening.