No two students are alike. If your child struggles with spelling, is a slow reader, has a difficult time sounding out unfamiliar words, and has three or more of the following warning signs, it is time to seek help.
In Preschool
• delayed speech • mixing up the sounds and syllables in long words • chronic ear infections • stuttering • constant confusion of left versus right • late establishing a dominant hand • difficulty learning to tie shoes • trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet • can’t create words that rhyme • a close relative with dyslexia In Elementary School • dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read) • letter or number reversals continuing past the end of 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, and there) • difficulty telling time with a clock with hands • trouble with math - memorizing multiplication tables - memorizing a sequence of steps - directionality • when speaking, difficulty finding the correct word - lots of “whatyamacallits” and “thingies” - common sayings come out slightly twisted • extremely messy bedroom, backpack, and desk • dreads going to school - complains of stomach aches or headaches - may have nightmares about school |
In High School
All of the above symptoms plus: • limited vocabulary • extremely poor written expression - large discrepancy between verbal skills and written compositions • unable to master a foreign language • difficulty reading printed music • poor grades in many classes Trouble with comprehension In Adults Education history similar to above, plus: • slow reader • may have to read a page 2 or 3 times to understand it • terrible speller • difficulty putting thoughts onto paper - dreads writing memos or letters • still has difficulty with right versus left • often gets lost, even in a familiar city • sometimes confuses b and d, especially when tired or sick Used by permission from www.BrightSolutions.US Copyright © |