Signs of Dyslexia

Since October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, it is only fitting to provide some information about the signs of dyslexia.  Here are some straight from Dr. Sally Shaywita's book, Overcoming Dyslexia (2nd Edition):  

Students with dyslexia might:

Read slowly & with much effort

Are often the one to solve the problem

Can't spell

Has messy handwriting

Show terrific imagination in storytelling, drawing, or writing

Have trouble remembering dates and names

Think out of the box; grasp the big picture

Have difficulty retrieving and pronouncing spoken words

Have excellent vocabulary and ideas

Reading or listening comprehension is stronger than the accuracy or speed of reading words

Delay in speaking or speech issues

Have problems detecting rhyming words

Have speech that has hesitations, long pauses, talking around a word when it cannot be retrieved

Have persistent difficulties learning a foreign language

Have problems paying attention and staying focused 

Not all of these characteristics might fit your child. However, students with dyslexia become champion memorizers and guessers as they progress through school if correction diagnosis and interventions are not implemented.   Also, if students don't receive help, more behavior and emotional issues can arise because they are set up to fail after 3rd grade.  After students enter fourth grade, they are expected to read to learn, and reading instruction is not provided. Early diagnosis and intervention are key factors in preventing anxiety, school phobia, acting out, poor self-esteem, and other types of maladaptive behaviors.

If you suspect your child is struggling to read, I highly recommend you buy Overcoming Dyslexia  (2nd edition) by Dr. Sally Shaywitz and Dr. Jonathan Shaywitz. This book has the most research and information about dyslexia.  Dr. Sally Shaywitz founded the Yale Center for  Dyslexia and Creativity and is considered the international authority on dyslexia.