** The most apparent Warning Sign is a close relative who has exhibited the Warning Signs of Dyslexia or has been diagnosed with Dyslexia. **
Preschool Warning Signs
- Delayed Speech (the child is not saying 5 to 10 words by their first birthday)
- Mixing up the sounds and syllables in long words (example: “aminal” for animal, “flustrated” for frustrated)
- Chronic ear inflections
- Severe reactions to childhood illnesses
- Constant confusion of left verses right
- Difficulty learning to tie shoes
- Trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet
- Can’t create words that rhyme
Elementary School
The biggest warning sign is how a child reads. Is he a fluent reader? Or does he experience the following:
- Slow, choppy, inaccurate reading
- Guesses based on shape of the word or context of the sentence
- Skips or misreads prepositions (at, to, for)
- Ignores suffixes
- Can’t sound out unknown words
Other Warning Signs Include:
- Terrible Speller (He or she may be able to pass the weekly spelling test, but would be unable to spell those same words later.)
- Dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read)
- Letter or number reversals continuing past the end of the 1st grade (example: b and d, p and q, P and 9)
- Extreme difficulty learning cursive writing (may prefer to print)
- Often can’t remember sight words (they, were, does) or homonyms (their, they’re, and there)
- Difficulty telling time on a clock with hands
- Trouble with math memorizing multiplication tables - memorizing a sequence of steps- directionality may be challenging (for example: long division)
- When speaking, difficulty finding the correct word (lots of “whatyamacallits” and “thingies,” common saying may come out slightly twisted)
- Extremely messy bedroom, backpack, and desk
- Dreads going to school (may complain of stomach aches or headaches, may have nightmares about school)
High School
All of the above symptoms plus:
- Limited vocabulary
- Extremely poor written expression (large discrepancy between verbal skills and written composition)
- Unable to master a foreign language
- Trouble organizing his or her homework and study time; messiness and disorganization continues to be a problem
- Despite being gifted in music, they may have difficulty reading printed music
- Poor grades in many classes
- May drop out of high school
Adults
Educational history similar to the above, plus:
- Slow reader
- May have to read a page 2 or 3 times to understand it
- Spelling continues to be a challenge
- Difficulty putting thoughts on paper (dreads writing memos or letters)
- Still has difficulty with right verses left
- Often gets lost, even in a familiar city
- Messy desk, office, and/or home
- Sometimes confused b and d, especially when sick or tired
Remember, no dyslexic will have every Warning Sign of Dyslexia and each person will have their own strengths and weaknesses. No two dyslexics will be exactly the same. Just as every individual is unique, so is every person with dyslexia uniquely created.
If you, your child, or a child you care about, is experiencing these warning signs it would be worthwhile to have he or she tested to determine if they have Dyslexia. Contact Learning Success for more information on the testing process.
