Early Signs of Dyslexia in Children: What Every Parent Should Know

At What Age Should We Start Looking? 

Early Signs in Preschool Years (Ages 3-5) 

• They might struggle with rhyming games that other kids enjoy. If your child can't catch on to "cat-hat-mat" patterns, take note. 

• Learning and remembering nursery rhymes might be unusually difficult. 

• They may have trouble remembering the names of colors, numbers, letters, or shapes, even after lots of practice. 

• You might notice they frequently use baby talk well past the typical age. 

• They might struggle to follow simple directions like "get your shoes and coat." 

• Pronouncing words might be tricky – saying "aminal" instead of "animal" or "psghetti" for "spaghetti" longer than other kids their age. 

Signs in Early School Years (Ages 5-7) 

• They might confuse alphabets that look similar (b/d, p/q) or letters with similar sounds (f/v, d/t). 

• Reading simple words might be a real struggle, even after other kids have caught on. 

• They might read very slowly and laboriously compared to their peers. 

• Writing their name might be consistently challenging. 

• They could show strong abilities in other areas (like math, art, or sports) while reading remains difficult. 

• You might notice they're extremely tired after reading or writing activities. 

Signs in Later Primary School Years (Ages 7+) 

• They may avoid reading aloud in class or get anxious when asked to read. 

• Writing assignments take much longer than they should 

• Their written work might be well below the quality of their verbal abilities 

• Spelling remains inconsistent – they might spell the same word differently, even in the same paragraph. 

• They often skip or misread small words like 'for,' 'of,' 'the.' 

• Organization becomes a major challenge – keeping track of homework, managing time, or following multi-step instructions. 

• They might show signs of fatigue or frustration during reading and writing tasks. 

• Math word problems become particularly challenging, even if they understand the mathematical concepts. 

• Taking notes while listening becomes extremely difficult 

• They might struggle to learn a foreign language. 

• Reading comprehension might be poor, even though they can decode words 

• They often rely heavily on context and pictures to understand what they're reading. 

• Homework sessions become battlegrounds, often ending in frustration and tears 

• Their self-esteem might begin to suffer as they compare themselves to their peers 

• Some become the class clown to deflect from their difficulties 

• Others might act out or show behavioral problems 

• Many become extremely good at memorizing to compensate for reading difficulties 

• Some might excel in other areas like sports, art, or science to maintain their self-esteem 

The Not-So-Obvious Signs 

• Excellent memory for stories when read to, but trouble reading themselves 

• Strong vocabulary when speaking but reluctance to write 

• Amazing creativity and imagination in storytelling 

• Great understanding of stories they hear but struggle with reading comprehension 

• Difficulty in remembering sequences (like days of the week or the alphabet) 

• Problems with tying shoes or other tasks requiring fine motor skills 

• Trouble telling time on an analog clock 

• Difficulty distinguishing left from right 

False Alarms: When Not to Worry 

• Letter reversals before age 7 (this is actually pretty normal!) 

• Temporary speech delays that resolve on their own 

• Preference for pictures over words in very young children 

• Initial difficulty with reading in kindergarten 

• Messy handwriting in early grades 

When to Take Action? 

• Your child shows several of these signs consistently over time 

• Their struggles are causing emotional distress or affecting their self-esteem 

• They're falling behind their peers despite getting regular classroom instruction 

• Your gut feeling as a parent tells you something isn't quite right 

Important Things to Remember 

• Early intervention is key. Don't wait too long if you're concerned. 

• Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence – many dyslexic people are highly intelligent and creative. 

• Every child with dyslexia is different and may show different combinations of these signs. 

• Having dyslexia in the family history makes it more likely your child could have it, too. 

What to Do Next? 

• Talk to your child's teacher about your observations 

• Keep a diary of specific difficulties you notice 

• Consider a professional evaluation through your school or a private educational psychologist 

• Remember that identifying dyslexia early can lead to better outcomes 

Conclusion