If your child has 3 or more of the following signs, we encourage you to learn more about tutoring with Nashville Dyslexia Center.

In Preschool

  • delayed speech
  • mixing up the sounds and syllables in long words
  • chronic ear infections
  • trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet
  • can’t create words that rhyme
  • a close relative with dyslexia

In Elementary School

  • dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read)
  • slow, choppy, inaccurate reading:
    • guesses based on shape or context
    • skips or misreads prepositions (at, to, of)
    • ignores suffixes
    • can’t sound out unknown words
    • terrible spelling
    • often can’t remember sight words (they, were, does) or homonyms (their, they’re, and there)
    • difficulty telling time with a clock with hands
  • trouble with math
    • memorizing multiplication tables
    • memorizing a sequence of steps
    • directionality
  • when speaking, difficulty finding the correct word
    • lots of “whatyamacallits” and “thingies”
    • common sayings come out slightly twisted
  • extremely messy bedroom, backpack, and desk
  • dreads going to school
    • complains of stomach aches or headaches
    • may have nightmares about school

In High School

All of the above signs plus:

  • limited vocabulary
  • extremely poor written expression
    • large discrepancy between verbal skills and written compositions
  • unable to master a foreign language
  • difficulty reading printed music
  • poor grades in many classes
  • may drop out of high school

In Adults

Education history similar to above, plus:

  • slow reader
  • may have to read a page 2 or 3 times to understand it
  • terrible speller
  • difficulty putting thoughts onto paper
    • dreads writing memos or letters

To learn more about dyslexia, please visit Susan Barton’s website, Bright Solutions for Dyslexia.

Reprinted with the permission of Bright Solutions for Dyslexia.

Copyright © 2002 by Susan Barton. All Rights Reserved.