19.10.2018
5 Warning Signs of Dyslexia
It’s back to school season. While most students may need some time to adjust to the routine after the summer vacation, some may be truly struggling with a condition that, if undiagnosed and properly addressed, will make their learning experience quite challenging and miserable.
Dyslexia is the most common cause of difficulties in reading, writing, and spelling. It can cause problems associating sounds with letters and long-term issues with reading, lasting into adulthood. But there is hope for children suffering from dyslexia.
When dyslexia is identified between kindergarten and the first grade, phonological training can vastly increase their ability to read, write, and spell at grade level moving forward.
But how do you know if your child is dyslexic?
Identifying 5 Warning Signs of Dyslexia
1. Trouble Pronouncing Words
You may have noticed your child mixing up certain letters within words, such as ‘pasghetti’ instead of ‘spaghetti’ or ‘wet’s lalk’ instead of ‘let’s walk.’ While it is common for children to mix up letters from time to time, you should pay close attention if your child speaks like this frequently.
2. Commonly Reverses Letters During Writing
If your child commonly reverses letters while spelling, this could be a warning sign of dyslexia. Again, while it is common for a child to misspell a word or to write a letter backward from time to time, such as ‘bog’ instead of ‘dog,’ it would be wise to pay attention if your child does this often or seems unable to tell the difference between the two.
3. Uses Memory Instead of Understanding
If you find that your child commonly uses memorization to perform tasks or to recall a past lesson but does not seem to understand the lesson or task, this may also be a warning sign.
4. Has Issues Reproducing Sequences
Children are taught sequencing fairly early in life. They learn how to count to 10 and their ABC’s usually before school. When this is done on paper, however, a child who may have dyslexia will have trouble reproducing the sequence.
5. Difficulty Reading Isolated Words
Reading single words within a sentence can become difficult because letters sometimes appear in reverse, and sometimes words altogether can appear reversed. This can lead to great difficulty reading isolated words, whereas sentences can be guessed using memory.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used as a basis for any treatment, diagnosis, decision or any other similar action. It is neither a medical advice nor a substitute for one. For any health-related issue, always consult with a professional.
