Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects reading. Estimates on how many children have dyslexia range widely from 5%- 20%. If children receive explicit systematic phonics instruction, then approximately 5% of kids will still have reading problems, and these kids are most certainly dyslexic.
Why would you want to know if your child is dyslexic? To learn to read, a dyslexic child needs a teacher or tutor who’s trained in dyslexia interventions. This means that not just anyone can teach the child how to read. The educator needs to know how to implement explicit, systematic phonics instruction with interleaving (mixed practice), delayed review and decodable texts.
It’s best to start the dyslexia instruction as early as possible. That way, the dyslexic child doesn’t fall too far behind in reading.
Here are some signs of dyslexia in kids:
-struggles to learn the letter names and sounds
-uses pictures to try to guess at the words
-uses word substitutions; for example, a child might say “house” for “horse” or “grass” for “field.” The child doesn’t analyze the phonetic components of the word to decode.
-delayed speech development
-trouble with blending; for example, the child might struggle to identify that the sounds “ssss-aaa-nnn-d” say “sand” or “b-llll-aaaa-sss-t” says blast.
-trouble with segmenting; for example, the student struggles to identify that “cat” is composed of the 3 sounds “c-aaaa-t” or that “blush” is composed of the 4 sounds “b-lll-uuu-sh.”
-struggles with fluency (reading speed); the child reads slowly in comparison to peers.
-struggles with automaticity; even if the child can decode the sounds, he struggles to blend them together quickly and fluidly.
-avoids reading tasks
-difficulty with phonemic awareness activities; this is another way of saying the child struggles with blending, segmenting, rhyming and sound manipulation tasks. These activities do not involve text. They only involve sound.
-family history of dyslexia or reading difficulties
Dyslexia doesn’t affect intelligence—many kids with dyslexia are highly creative and bright in other areas. If you notice several of these signs, especially if they persist over time, it’s a good idea to talk to a teacher or specialist about getting a dyslexia intervention.
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