Common Signs: 5th-8th 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.
- Is usually reading below grade level.
- May reverse letter sequences - "soiled" for "solid," "left" for "felt."
- May be slow to discern and to learn prefixes, suffixes, root words, and other reading and spelling strategies.
- May have difficulty spelling; spells same word differently on the same page.
- May avoid reading aloud.
- May have trouble with word problems in math.
- May write with difficulty with illegible handwriting; pencil grip is awkward, fist-like or tight.
- May avoid writing.
- May have difficulty with written composition.
- May have slow or poor recall of facts.
- May have difficulty with comprehension.
- May have trouble with non-literal language (idioms, jokes, proverbs, slang).
- May have difficulty with planning, organizing and managing time, materials and tasks.