Is my child dyslexic?

Signs of Dyslexia in Primary School-Aged Children

If a child is struggling with spelling, reading, writing, or numeracy, how can you tell if these challenges may be signs of dyslexia? Recognizing these early signs can be key in providing the support needed for success.

Dyslexia often presents as a ‘spiky’ profile, where a child shows areas of strong ability alongside areas of difficulty. It’s also worth noting that if there are other family members with similar challenges, this could be an indicator. However, keep in mind that no two dyslexic children are the same, and their strengths and weaknesses can vary.

General Signs to Look for:
  • Speed of Processing:
  • Slow spoken and/or written language
  • Poor concentration and attention span
  • Difficulty following instructions or remembering details
  • Frequently forgetting words

Written Work:
  • Written work is often of a lower standard than oral ability
  • Produces messy work, with many crossings out and attempts at words (e.g., wippe, wype, wiep, wipe)
  • Confusion between letters that look similar, especially b/d, p/g, p/q, n/u, m/w
  • Poor handwriting, often with reversals or badly formed letters
  • Spells words in multiple ways in the same piece of writing
  • Makes anagrams of words, such as "tired" for "tried" or "bread" for "beard"
  • Difficulty with organizing written work, and doesn’t stay close to the margin
  • Poor pencil grip
  • Spelling that is phonetic or bizarre for their age/ability level
  • Uses unusual sequencing of letters or words


Reading:
  • Slow progress in reading
  • Difficulty blending letters together
  • Struggles to divide words into syllables or identify the beginning and end of words
  • Unusual pronunciation of words
  • Lacks expression in reading and has poor comprehension
  • Hesitant and labored reading, especially when reading aloud
  • Frequently skips or adds words while reading
  • Struggles to recognize familiar words
  • Loses track of the story or message being read
  • Has trouble identifying the key points in a passage

Numeracy:
  • Confusion with place value (e.g., units, tens, hundreds)
  • Difficulty understanding symbols like + and x
  • Struggles to remember sequences, such as multiplication tables, days of the week, or the alphabet


Time:
  • Difficulty learning to tell time
  • Poor timekeeping or personal organization
  • Struggles with remembering dates, seasons, or months of the year
  • Difficulty understanding concepts like yesterday, today, and tomorrow

Skills:
  • Weak motor skills, affecting speed, control, and accuracy when writing
  • Memory difficulties, such as trouble with daily routines, self-organization, or rote learning
  • Confusion between left and right, up and down, east and west
  • Indeterminate hand preference
  • Performs unevenly from day to day

Behavior:
  • Uses work avoidance strategies, like sharpening pencils or looking for books
  • Appears distracted, "dreamy," or not paying attention
  • Easily loses focus or gets distracted
  • Acts as the class clown, or is disruptive or withdrawn
  • Excessively tired from the concentration and effort required to complete tasks

A combination of these signs, alongside areas of ability, could suggest dyslexia and may warrant further investigation.

Next Steps

If you suspect your child may have dyslexia, the first step is to discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher or the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo). The teacher should consult with the SENCo to explore next steps and determine appropriate support.

According to the SEND Code of Practice, if a teacher suspects a child may have special educational needs (SEN), they must inform the parents and involve them in discussions about the best support for their child. Parents must also be informed about any special educational provisions being made.

It's essential that appropriate support is implemented as soon as a need is identified. A Diagnostic Assessment is not required for a child to receive SEN support, but dyslexia can only be formally diagnosed through a diagnostic assessment.

To find out more about screening and assessments email us at: info@set.foundation.

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