Common Symptoms Of Dyslexia

Signs and Symptoms of Dyslexia

First thing to know about this article is that the only way to know for sure if you or your child have dyslexia is by Formal Testing from a Medical Professional. Students and adults can display symptoms from the list below and not be dyslexic.

Reading and writing letters in the wrong order is one of the first things most people think of when they hear the word dyslexia. While this can be a symptom displayed by some it is only one of many symptoms and it is certainly not one that everyone displays. It is also common for younger children before the age of 7 to reverse letters as they learn to spell. 

General Symptoms of Dyslexia

1) Difficulty learning to speak (Children talking later than expected and being slow to add new words to their vocabulary.)

2) Trouble organizing written and spoken language.

3) Learning the letters of the alphabet and the sounds that go with them.

4) Difficulty learning math facts and doing math operations correctly.

5) Poor spelling skills.

6) Difficulty with reading and comprehension.

7) Excessive problems learning to speak a foreign language.

8) Has problems reading single words. (Flash cards for one example.)

9) Trouble with rhyming words such as cat and hat.

10) Letter reversals and word reversals such as confusing d & b or tap for pat.

Adults with Dyslexia

It can be even more difficult to determine if an adult is truly dyslexic or not because they have frequently learned ways of dealing with their learning difficulties and hiding the symptoms.

They may avoid writing if they can and hide reading problems but will usually have poor spelling skills and rely on others to correct the mistakes. Their oral language skills on the other hand may be highly competent and they may have an excellent memory.

Often they will have good people skills and be very intuitive when dealing with others but in their professional life they are working below their actual intellectual capacity. This is frequently due to poor time management skills, a lack of organizational skills and difficulty planning.

An adult with dyslexia will often be spatially talented. Craftsmen, architects, artists, physicians, engineering, physicists, and dentists are just a few examples of professions that they may be talented in.