What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning disability that makes it difficult to read, write, and spell despite normal intelligence and adequate instruction. The brain cannot process information received from the eyes or ears into understandable language.

Students with dyslexia:

  • Often have a close relative with dyslexia
  • Are not lazy – they often work very hard in school
  • Can be very intelligent
  • Need to be taught in a different way

Do You or Your Child Have These Warning Signs of Dyslexia?

A person with dyslexia will have 3 or more of the following warning signs.

In Elementary School:

  • Dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read)
  • Letter or number reversals continuing past first grade
  • Extreme difficulty learning cursive
  • Slow, choppy, inaccurate reading—guesses based on shape or context, skips or misreads prepositions (at, to, of) ignores suffixes, can’t sound out unknown words
  • Terrible spelling
  • Often can’t remember sight words (they, were, does) or homonyms (their, they’re, there)
  • Difficulty telling time on a clock with hands
  • Trouble with math: memorizing multiplication tables, memorizing a sequence of steps, directionality
  • Extremely messy bedroom, backpack, and desk
  • Dreads going to school, complains of stomach aches or headaches, nightmares about school
  • A close relative with dyslexia – the biggest warning sign of all

In Preschool:

  • Delayed speech – not talking at all by 1 year.
  • Mixing up the sounds or syllables in long words such as “aminal” or “busketti”
  • Constant confusion of left versus right
  • Late establishing a dominant hand
  • Difficulty learning to tie shoes
  • Trouble memorizing address, phone number, or the alphabet
  • Can’t create words that rhyme

In High School and Beyond:

  • Limited vocabulary
  • Difficulty putting thoughts onto paper, dreads writing papers, memos, and letters
  • Unable to master a foreign language
  • Difficulty reading printed music
  • May have to read a page 2 or 3 times to understand it
  • Terrible spelling
  • Still has difficulty with left versus right
  • Often gets lost, even in a familiar city
  • Sometimes confuses b and d, especially when tired or sick
  • Poor grades in many classes
  • May drop out of high school

Find Help for Your Student Who Struggles with Dyslexia

If you answered yes to three or more of these symptoms, the Dyslexia Reading Connection can help. We can provide an in-depth dyslexia assessment and tutoring to help get your student back on track.

1
Step One

Schedule a Free Consultation

2
Step Two

Set Up an Evaluation

3
Step Three

Choose a Solution that Meets Your Needs

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