3 or more warning signs, should not be ignored
In Preschool
• delayed speech
• mixing up the sounds and syllables in long words
• chronic ear infections
• severe reactions to childhood illnesses
• 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 homophones (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 the Preschool and Elementary 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
• may drop out of high school
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
“your other left”
• often gets lost, even in a familiar city
• sometimes confuses b and d, especially when
tired or sick
Reprinted with prior permission from Susan Barton.