Warning Signs

 

A parent is often the first person to recognize a child's reading problem.  Knowing what signs to look for can help you determine whether to investigate further.  Below is a list of key warning signs for the most common language-based learning disability- dyslexia.

 

GENERAL:

• Family history of reading difficulty

• Delayed speech

• Apprehension about attending school

 

IN PRESCHOOL:

• Mixing up sounds in long words (such as bisgetti instead of spaghetti)

• Trouble rhyming words

• Persistent left/right confusion

• Difficulty learning to tie shoes

• Trouble memorizing the alphabet, home address or phone number

 

IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

• Reversing letters after the first grade

• Slow, choppy, inaccurate reading

• Frequent guessing at unknown words

• Trouble remembering sight words

• Terrible spelling

• Slow, non-automatic handwriting

• Difficulty finding the correct word when speaking

• Especially messy bedroom, backpack, or desk

 

IN MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL:

All of the above, plus:

• Limited vocabulary

• Extremely poor written expression

• Poor grades in many classes

• Inability to master a foreign language

• At risk for dropping out of school