Dyslexia Symptoms: Signs of Dyslexia in Kids

It’s common for misconceptions to delay or even derail the early identification of dyslexia. Here are two myths we often encounter as dyslexia therapists:

• Myth:  My child sees letters and words backward.
  Fact: Dyslexia is not related to visual difficulties or seeing things backward. It primarily affects language processing.
• Myth: Schools can’t test for dyslexia before third grade.
  Fact: Early identification is key, and screening can start as early as preschool. Research shows that early intervention (from ages 4–6) can make a meaningful impact.

While there are many things that dyslexia is NOT, there are some common patterns.

• Dyslexic students typically have difficulty identifying the speech sounds in words and how they relate to letters and spelling patterns.  For example, a dyslexic student may struggle with the awareness that the first sound in ship is the same sound at the beginning of sugar and chef, but spelled -sh- in ship. 
• People with dyslexia do not differ from typical readers in intelligence, hearing, or vision. 
• Early identification and intervention help students with dyslexia overcome these reading and spelling difficulties.
• The reading and spelling difficulties of people with dyslexia vary from mild to severe. 
• Red flags for dyslexia differ depending on a student’s age.

It’s common for misconceptions to delay or even derail the early identification of dyslexia. Here are two myths we often encounter as dyslexia therapists:

Signs of Dyslexia by Age

The symptoms of dyslexia vary with age, so we’ve broken down the most common signs across different developmental stages. While symptoms alone do not confirm a diagnosis, if your child shows several of these signs, consider taking our free dyslexia screener or speaking with a professional.

Symptoms of Dyslexia in Preschool (Ages 3-5):

• Reversing or leaving off sounds when pronouncing common words (e.g., pushetti for spaghetti, aminal for animal)
• Difficulty remembering letter names, sounds, and rhyming patterns (e.g., “cat,” “bat,” “rat”).
• Difficulty with word games
• Little to no interest in reading from books or print materials

Symptoms of Dyslexia in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade (Ages 5-8):

• Difficulty learning and remembering the names of letters and their associated sounds
• Difficulty pronouncing letter sounds and then blending them to pronounce a whole word, such as -c-a-t- to cat.
• Difficulty decoding and spelling words
• Difficulty reading common sight words
• Skips words when reading or guessing without attempting to sound them out.
• Frequently complains that reading is too hard, shows signs of fatigue, or has physical complaints like headaches or stomachaches related to schoolwork.
• Avoiding reading or writing-related tasks

Symptoms of Dyslexia in 3rd through 5th Grades (8-11):

• Avoiding reading and writing tasks, especially reading aloud
• Difficulty decoding words, especially uncommon or complex words
• Over-use of short, simple, easy-to-spell words in writing
• Difficulty with reading comprehension, especially when reading independently
• Greater difficulty with math word problems than with calculation problems
• Struggling to finish assignments and tests on time
• Extreme fatigue related to reading and writing

Symptoms of Dyslexia in Middle and High School (12+):

• Difficulty with and avoidance of reading and writing especially reading aloud
• Anxiety related to school, school assignments, and tests
• Difficulty with reading comprehension, frequently requiring re-reading passages
• Difficulty decoding words, especially uncommon or complex words
• Difficulty spelling
• Difficulty finishing assignments and tests on time
• Extreme fatigue related to reading and writing
• Difficulty learning a foreign language

Strengths Commonly Seen in Kids with Dyslexia

While dyslexia presents challenges, many children with dyslexia also possess unique strengths:

• Creativity and Problem Solving: Often imaginative and able to think outside the box.
• Big-Picture Thinking: Strong ability to understand concepts and themes, even if details are more challenging.
• Hands-On Learning: Many dyslexic children excel in activities that involve hands-on experiences, observation, and experimentation.

These strengths can be nurtured through structured literacy programs and supportive teaching methods that build on a student’s strengths.

Helping Your Child with Early Signs of Dyslexia

The Lexercise Structured Literacy Curriculum™ offers individualized engagement, effective practice opportunities, extra features, and online accessibility so that your child can receive research-based, quality dyslexia help at home. If you suspect your child has dyslexia or other learning disability, take one of our free learning disabilities screeners or schedule a free consultation.