Recognizing Dyslexia in Your Child

Maybe you've noticed that your son is falling behind in school and has a hard time reading and writing. Maybe your daughter's teacher has mentioned that she might have dyslexia. Whatever the case, it's important to look into this, as early intervention makes a big difference. One of the best things you can do for a dyslexic child is to get them help as soon as possible.

Here are some of the signs of dyslexia to look for in your child:

-Difficulty reading and writing

This is one of the biggest signs, and the reason why many dyslexic children go undiagnosed till they are in school.

-Writes and reads letters and/or numbers backwards: This is known as directional confusion. The child may confuse 'b' with 'd' or 'p' with 'q'. This also shows up in writing whole words, where the child may spell or read words backwards.

-Mixes up the letters in words: Your child may read 'and' as 'dan' or 'read' as 'dear'. Or they may see a completely different word, relying on key letters in a big word and just guessing at the rest of the word, such as reading 'window' as 'down'. This also shows up in the child's writing.

-Leaves out letters when reading or writing: They may read 'slick' as 'sick', or write 'pay' when they mean 'play'.

-Other Signs

-Performs below grade level despite knowing the subject matter: Dyslexic children are usually smart, but poor test takers. This is due to a dyslexic person's difficulty in reading as well as problems with following multi-step directions.

-Confuses left and right: This is a common problem even in children who don't have dyslexia, so only consider this category if it's in conjunction with others.

-Has difficulty with math and numbers: This is actually called dyscalculia and can occur on its own, but may be seen along with dyslexia.

-Has trouble remembering the order of things: Things that come in a long sequence, such as the alphabet, a phone number, or months in a year, are often difficult for a dyslexic child to remember.

-Has problems following multiple-step instructions: If you tell your child, "I want you to go put away your toys, put your dirty clothes in the hamper, and then wash your hands for dinner," he or she may have a hard time remembering all these instructions.

These are just some of the most common signs of dyslexia. If your child has some of these signs, talk to their teacher. Your child's teacher can point you in the direction of where you can get your child tested and where you can find resources to help with dyslexia.

If you suspect that your child may have dyslexia, don't worry. Many famous people, scientists, and professors have dyslexia. It does not in any way mean your child is less smart than his or her non-dyslexic peers. While this is a challenge for both you and your child, by using various learning strategies and making sure your child gets the specialized instruction they need, your child can regain their confidence and flourish in school.