Signs Your Child Might Have Dyslexia

Every child develops differently. Of course, there are cognitive, social, language, and physical milestones we expect a child to reach during a certain period. Yet, all children experience being slower in some areas of their development while having some struggles in others. It’s crucial to give your kid room for mistakes and improvement, in particular, when focusing on cognitive tasks.

As a parent who is also studying, you may be over-vigilant about your child’s development. You have assignments, a job, and a child to support, juggling thoughts about “do I need Essaypro to write my paper for me” and “how to provide the best for my child”. It’s normal to be cautious and attentive to each of your child’s achievements. Yet, you may feel anxious to miss signs of something you want to address right away. 

One of the development disorders you might want to look out for from an early age is dyslexia. This diagnosis affects twenty percent of the population, and it is one of the most common neurocognitive disorders. Here, we’ve collected the most common signs and symptoms that your child might have dyslexia. 

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects one’s ability to read, spell, write, and speak. Even though it is primarily connected to difficulties with reading and writing, dyslexia affects the child’s ability to process language in general. It also may affect the way of perception and other aspects of daily routines. 

Studies also show that dyslexia can coexist with other diagnoses. About four in ten people will have ADHD. Less common would be dyspraxia (issues with coordination and balance) or amusia (tone deafness). Your kid can also develop anxiety as a result of having performance issues in school. 

It’s a common misconception that people with dyslexia can have further problems in their lives. This diagnosis doesn’t affect intelligence or cognitive abilities. In the future, your child has equal chances to apply for an astronomy major as any other student. In fact, many creative and tech-savvy people have this diagnosis. 

Even though this disorder can’t be cured, it can be accommodated and managed. That’s why it is significant to dedicate as much time as possible to overcoming common struggles. Any challenge that comes with this diagnosis is not a sentence neither for a child, nor for their parents. 

What are the common causes of dyslexia?

• Many studies show that this disorder is a hereditary condition. If you have relatives that struggle with similar symptoms or have other learning disabilities, the chances of having a child with a similar diagnosis increase. 
• Premature birth or low birth weight affect the earliest development. 
• Exposure to nicotine, alcohol, or infections during pregnancy.
• Individual differences in brain areas connected to language processing.

Preschool age 

Dyslexia can be hard to spot before your kid enters school. Yet, it’s still possible to recognize some developmental patterns that indicate potential problems in the learning area.

1. Mispronouncing and having difficulties with forming words correctly. The child may reverse sounds or mistake words that sound alike.
2. A child has difficulties learning nursery rhymes. 
3. Having issues with remembering sequences that manifest in telling stories that are out of logical order.
4. Struggling to remember words for familiar objects or use general words for them. 

School-age (till grade 5)

As the school introduces more learning activities, it’s easier for teachers to notice if a child has significant difficulties. 

1. Struggling to read familiar words without visual aid like pictures. 
2. Confusing similar looking and sounding letters. 
3. Changing words when reading aloud. 
4. Blending sounds when making a word. 
5. Difficulty retelling a story and performing basic math tasks. 
6. A child doesn’t memorize new words. 
7. Confusing and missing prepositions and small words when reading aloud. 
8. Frequently making the same spelling mistakes. 
9. A child experiences frustration when reading and tries to avoid the task. 
10. Difficulty with memorizing numbers sequences, like place values. 
11. A child is confused by math symbols. 

Teenagers

Many teenagers and adults can have the same issues as they had in school if they aren’t addressed properly. Yet, the teenage years may be one of the hardest for a person since they are moving away from home for college, getting their first job, and starting to have more complex social networks. 

1. Reading slowly or reading out small parts of longer words. 
2. Reading and writing consume more time than it usually requires. 
3. A child doesn’t remember common abbreviations. 
4. A child has problems understanding puns or jokes. 
5. Trouble learning a foreign language.

Written works indicators 

1. Poor handwriting with badly formed letters. 
2. Confusion by similar-looking letters. 
3. Variety of mistakes and misspelled words. 
4. Poorer quality of written work in comparison to oral skills.
5. Poor pencil grip and motor skills.

Other common signs

Dyslexia affects not only the processing of language but perception in general. It will have its impact on behavior, self-image, thought patterns, and ways how a person approaches challenges. It’s always helpful to correct organization skills and time management appropriately, so your kids don’t struggle with their finals and other tasks in life. It’s possible to turn these weaknesses into advantages. For example, daydreaming can be used for creativity.

1. A kid is easily distracted and seems to be daydreaming a lot. 
2. A constant feeling of tiredness due to extra efforts to concentrate and perform tasks. 
3. Generally is avoidant when having to deal with tasks.
4. Performs differently from day to day. 
5. Easily confuses directions. 
6. Has poor understanding of time, tracking of day in the week, and concepts of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
7. Cannot keep up with self-organization.
8. A child has poor self-esteem due to peer pressure or social expectations.
9. A child stutters under stress or has problems expressing their thoughts. 
10. It’s common for children with dyslexia to have auditory symptoms like hearing something very quiet and being distracted by background sounds.

How do you get a proper diagnosis and treatment?

Before speaking to the specialist, it is highly recommended to talk with a child’s teacher. The diagnosis process may consist of different questionnaires and tests that will determine whether there’s a need for further assistance and a treatment plan. 

Dyslexia is a lifelong diagnosis, and its symptoms can be managed and improved with the tools and techniques available to you. It’s impossible to treat dyslexia with medication, so you need to develop a detailed plan on how to help your kid. It is also important to cooperate with a medical specialist and teachers to track the study progress and correct your plan or accommodate some of your child’s needs. 

You can help relieve some pressure by reading aloud to your kid and encouraging them to use audio materials for studying. It is also possible to create an individual study plan. Yet, it’s not required because many students with dyslexia manage to study along the established program and catch up with their peers.

The bottom line 

Even though dyslexia brings a lot of trouble for a child and their parents, it’s not a monster you need to fear. It’s possible to manage the symptoms and relieve them to the point when they have zero to no effect on your quality of life. 

Many successful and talented people have this diagnosis and keep up with the fast-changing world. Therefore, you need a bit of patience and a lot of persistence. But it’s something everyone needs to achieve the best results.

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