WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?

Dyslexia is a learning disorder affecting the areas of the brain that process language. Somebody with dyslexia will struggle to identify “speech sounds” and learn how these sounds relate to letters and words. This means they will have difficulty with reading and writing.²

Dyslexia is NOT a sign of lacking intelligence. Children with dyslexia can succeed and thrive, provided they have the right educational and emotional support.²

There isn’t any cure for dyslexia, but early diagnosis means you can give your child the support they need to flourish.²

Signs of Dyslexia in Children

The signs of dyslexia vary from person to person, but here is a general guideline on what to be aware of as a parent.

IN VERY YOUNG CHILDREN

At the age of 1-2 years when a child first starts to make sounds, the earliest signs of dyslexia can start to appear. A young child with dyslexia might:^2,3

• Start talking later than usual
• Learn new words slower than usual
• Struggle to form words correctly, often jumbling the letters
• Struggle to learn the alphabet
• Struggle to remember the names of letters, numbers and colours
• Struggle to learn nursery rhymes or play rhyming games

NB: It’s important to note that a speech delay isn’t always a sign of dyslexia, but it is a sign that you should pay close attention to your little one’s language development.³

IN SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN

The signs of dyslexia might become more obvious once your child starts school. These may include:^2,3,4

• Reading below the expected level for their age
• Struggling to process and understand what they hear
• Difficulty finding the right word
• Difficulty with spelling or sounding out words
• Avoiding tasks that require reading and writing
• Inability to see the similarities and differences in letters and words
• Not understanding the concept that words break apart into sounds
• Little understanding of simple rhyming words and phrases (like “the cat sat on the mat”)

Tip: When learning to write, a child with dyslexia will often put letters and numbers the wrong way round – for example, writing b instead of d or 6 instead of 9.⁴

IN TEENS

Some children with dyslexia might only be diagnosed later in life. Common dyslexia symptoms in adolescents are:^2,4

• Difficulty reading
• Slow writing speed
• Poor handwriting
• Inconsistent spelling
• Trouble remembering words or memorising information
• Struggling to summarise a story
• Difficulty understanding wordplay

Diagnosing Dyslexia

If you’re concerned about your child’s progress with reading and writing, or if their teacher has similar concerns, take them to your family doctor or paediatrician for a check-up. Your doctor can check for other possible underlying issues, such as vision problems or hearing impairment.⁴

If these issues are ruled out, your doctor (or your child’s school) can recommend a specialist like an educational psychologist. This specialist will be able to test for and diagnose dyslexia or other learning disorders.³

Supporting A Child with Dyslexia

If your child has dyslexia, it may be necessary to create an individualised education plan for them; work closely with their teachers and therapists to put this in place and track their progress. Here are some other steps you can take to support your child and help them to build their skills:⁵

• Harness the power of technology. Tools like text-to-speech software, spell-check software and online dictionaries can all help your child to progress.
• Help your child stay organised. Work with them to create a system they can easily understand to keep their schoolwork organised – for example, use colour-coded labels instead of written labels.
• Bring an element of fun into learning. Make up games, songs or dances to help your child remember information.
• Make reading fun! Read your child’s favourite books out loud to them, as many times as they want. Listen to audiobooks with your child and encourage them to read along in the corresponding written book. Talk about the stories you read together. Ask them about their favourite parts or what they think will happen next.
• Encourage your child to read and write about the things that interest them most – like a favourite animal, activity or place.
• Introduce your child to age-appropriate comic books and graphic novels, which combine written information with visual information.
• Give your child emotional support. Praise their strengths and celebrate their successes – big and small.

With proper diagnosis and support, children with dyslexia can grow up with a love of reading, writing and learning!

1. The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity. https://dyslexia.yale.edu/dyslexia/dyslexia-faq/.
2. Mayo Clinic. Dyslexia – symptoms and causes. 2017. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dyslexia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353552.
3. How to recognize dyslexia symptoms by age. 2017. https://www.healthline.com/health/dyslexia-symptoms-by-age.
4. NHS UK. Dyslexia symptoms. 2018. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dyslexia/symptoms/.
5. If your child has dyslexia: tips for parents. 2021. https://www.webmd.com/children/helping-children-with-dyslexia.