How to Look for Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a type of learning disability usually diagnosed when a child attends elementary school and starts to learn how to read. Dyslexia involves the brain's inability to make sense of written text and be able to translate it into understandable language. A teacher, pediatrician or parent may notice certain signs that indicate the child may be dyslexic.
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Instructions
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Look for dyslexia in pre-school-age children. Since children do not start reading until elementary school, early signs of dyslexia can be difficult to identify. However, late talkers and children who build vocabulary slowly are at a higher risk of being dyslexic.
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Monitor the child for struggles that occur while reading. Dyslexics commonly don't know how to sound out a word that they have never seen before. They may also not comprehend the spacing and punctuation that separates sentences and words. When the school evaluates the child's reading letter, a dyslexic will likely be found at a much lower level than children of the same age.
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Try rhyming games with the child. Children with dyslexia will often have difficulty rhyming words.
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Study the way that the child writes. Dyslexic children will often reverse different letters and words. The letters "b" and "d" are commonly confused, and the child with dyslexia may write "war" instead of "raw."
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Watch for signs that the child has difficulty remembering things. If a child has dyslexia, she may not have the ability to follow more than one specific instruction at a time. She may also not know how to order things and struggle in sequence games and activities.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember to speak to your pediatrician and the child's teacher if you suspect dyslexia. They will be able to direct you to a learning specialist to help the child cope with the condition.
