10 Signs That Your Child Might Have Dyslexia

Reading is a complex operation for our brains, and lots of young learners struggle to get the hang of it. Many parents find themselves wondering if their kids’ reading challenges are a temporary phase, or if there is an underlying disability at play. Experiencing difficulties with reading can be a symptom of various processing disorders, with dyslexia being the most common. Fortunately, disabilities like dyslexia are never a measure of intellectual ability, and most students can achieve success in reading with the right support.

Wondering if your child’s reading struggles might be caused by dyslexia? Here are 10 common signs:

1. Do they struggle with silent letters?

English is anything but an easy language to learn. It can often be unpredictable or downright paradoxical. Why does “through” need a “gh,” and why doesn’t it rhyme with “enough”? Who decided that “knife” needs a “k” and “pterodactyl” needs a “p”? Then there is “climb,” “gnaw,” “asthma”…

These words can be challenging for any kid to wrap their minds around, but those with dyslexia find it especially difficult to process words with silent letters.

2. Is sounding it out super hard?

We frequently encounter new words in daily life and are taught to use an understanding of letter sounds and previously known words to “sound out” unfamiliar ones. Dyslexia can make it hard to connect sounds to their individual letters or arrangements of letters (such as registering “ph” as “f”). This means that if your child is in the middle of 2nd grade or older and still regularly has trouble sounding out new words, it might be time to consider diagnostic testing.

3. Do words just… not make sense?

“Visual processing” refers to how our brains organize and make sense of information that our eyes see in order to solve a problem or employ a skill. Kids with dyslexia can have impaired visual processing, which can manifest in various ways. Some kids see letters out of order or moving around on a page. Some might see letters all squished together, while others might see lots of space between them. Mixing up similar letters with one another, like “b” and “d” or “e” and “c” is also common. Regardless of the form your kid’s dyslexia takes and how they process information, diagnostic testing can pinpoint the exact areas that they struggle with to determine the most effective intervention strategies.

If you believe that your child’s reading struggles are caused by dyslexia, schedule a consultation with Variations’ diagnosticians to learn about our psychological testing services.

4. Do they have trouble “seeing” despite 20/20 vision?

Because kids with dyslexia have trouble “seeing” words as they are, it’s common to suspect that they have impaired vision. And they might! However, a person can have 20/20 vision and still have dyslexia, as dyslexia has nothing to do with visual acuity. While dyslexia doesn’t impact one’s ability to see, it does impair their ability to decipher letters and interpret words correctly. Because so many processing disorders have similar symptoms, and because visual processing impairments can exacerbate a student’s learning differences, an accurate diagnosis is an important step toward acquiring the support your kid needs. If your child has received optical care but continues to struggle with reading, it may be beneficial to have them tested for dyslexia.

5. Does reading comprehension look different?

For many kids, a major challenge of dyslexia is that all their attention is focused on processing the words themselves, leaving little energy to comprehend the meaning of what they have read. However, hearing a story often makes it much easier for such students to comprehend meaning because they are not using so much of their energy to interpret each word. When students receive a dyslexia diagnosis, they often qualify for helpful accommodations like electronic readers or audiobooks to increase their comprehension.

6. Is memorization a hassle?

Memorization can be a struggle for kids with dyslexia. In preschool, this can present as having trouble memorizing letters of the alphabet. Throughout teen and adult years, this can manifest as difficulties memorizing important dates, names, phone numbers, or lists like state capitals or periodic elements.

7. Do they run out the clock during tests?

Students with dyslexia often have difficulty recognizing letters and matching them to their correct sounds. Because it takes them a while to read every word, kids often need additional time to complete assignments. If your child is undiagnosed, they will not receive the extra time they need to complete assignments or in-class tests. Additional time for tests, similar to e-readers, is another type of support that a student can get through a 504 or IEP.

8. Does your kid just avoid reading?

We all want reading to be enjoyable for our kids. It expands their way of thinking and exposes them to new ideas and unique worlds. Dyslexia, however, can make reading feel intimidating and aggravating. As a result, students with dyslexia will often try to get out of reading assignments and avoid reading aloud at all. In some cases, younger kids who are just learning to read will opt to look at pictures and ignore the written words altogether. Sometimes, this can even result in physical symptoms in response to reading, such as severe headaches or nausea.

9. Does your child have other “superpowers”?

Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, Octavio Spencer, and Salma Hayek are all examples of incredible thinkers, artists, and professionals with dyslexia. Each of them has achieved tremendous success in various fields, pursuing their dreams and passions. Kids with dyslexia are often still imaginative, innovative, and highly intelligent thinkers with effective reasoning skills and abstract problem-solving approaches. It’s critical for youths with dyslexia to receive appropriate support so they can manage their symptoms while cultivating their unique strengths, talents, and “superpowers.”

10. Does your school not recognize a problem?

School districts can administer tests that evaluate for broad reading issues, but these often fail to evaluate for specific symptoms of dyslexia such as phonological processing, orthographic coding, and auditory short-term memory, to name just a few examples. Consequently, kids with dyslexia can fly under the radar, even after being tested by their school.

Variations’ diagnosticians comprehensively assess for the specific symptoms of dysphonic dyslexia (difficulty connecting sounds to symbols), surface dyslexia (characterized by difficulties with whole word recognition and spelling), mixed dyslexia (which combines visual and phonological challenges), and reading comprehension deficits. By identifying each student’s specific areas of struggle, our diagnosticians can guide families to the best path for their child’s success.

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If a loved one has a learning difference or other condition that impacts their mental health and education, you may feel lost in determining the best ways to support them. 

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References:

Horne, J. (2014). Famous Starts with Dyslexia. IMDB. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/list/ls071872465/ 

Marshall, A. (n.d.). What Dyslexics See. Dyslexia.com. Retrieved from https://www.dyslexia.com/question/what-dyslexics-see/ 

Morin, A. (n.d.). Classroom Accommodations for Dyslexia. Understood.org. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/partnering-with-childs-school/instructional-strategies/at-a-glance-classroom-accommodations-for-dyslexia 

Shaywitz, S. (n.d.) Signs of Dyslexia. Yale University. Retrieved from http://dyslexia.yale.edu/dyslexia/signs-of-dyslexia/ 

Shinn. M.M. (2020). Could My Kid Have a Processing Disorder? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/could-my-kid-have-a-processing-disorder 

Shinn. M.M. (2023). My Kid is Struggling in School – Should I Get Them Tested? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/my-kid-is-struggling-in-school-should-i-get-them-tested 

Shinn. M.M. (2020). Understanding Education Plans: A Parent’s Guide to 504s and IEPs. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/understanding-education-plans-a-parents-guide-to-504s-and-ieps 

Shinn. M.M. (2022). Understanding Supports, Services, Accommodations, Modifications & Placements. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/understanding-supports-services-accommodations-modifications-placements

How to Cite This Blog Article:

Shinn. M.M. (2024). 10 Signs That Your Kid Might Have Dyslexia. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from: https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/10%20Signs%20That%20Your%20Child%20Might%20Have%20Dyslexia