Warning signs of dyslexia

delayed speech • mixing up the sounds in long words  • 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 

dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read) • letter or number reversals  • extreme difficulty learning cursive • slow, choppy, inaccurate reading - guesses words based on shape or context • skips or misreads prepositions (at, to, of) • 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 memorizing multiplication tables or a sequence of steps • when speaking, difficulty finding the correct word  • extremely messy bedroom, backpack, and desk • dreads going to school 

Any of the above symptoms • limited vocabulary • extremely poor written expression  • unable to master a foreign language • difficulty reading printed music • poor grades in many classes • may drop out of high school 

Any of the above symptoms • slow reader • may have to read a page 2 or 3 times to understand it • terrible speller • difficulty putting thoughts onto paper and 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