Common Signs: Kindergarten-4th grade
The difficulties noted below are often associated with dyslexia if they are unexpected for the individual's age, educational level, or cognitive abilities. A qualified diagnostician can test a person to determine if he or she is truly dyslexic.
- Has difficulty decoding single words (reading single words in isolation)
- May be slow to learn the connection between letters and sounds
- May confuse small words – “at” for “to”, “said” for “and”, “does” for “goes”
- Makes consistent reading and spelling errors including:
- Letter reversals – d for b as in, dog for bog
- Word reversals – tip for pit
- Inversions – m and w, u and n
- Transpositions – felt and left
- Substitutions – house and home
- May transpose number sequences and confuse arithmetic signs (+ - x / =)
- May have trouble remembering facts
- May be slow to learn new skills; relies heavily on memorizing without understanding
- May have difficulty planning, organizing and managing time, materials and tasks
- Often uses an awkward pencil grip (fist, thumb hooked over fingers, etc.)
- May have poor fine motor coordination