Signs of Dyslexia and How It Is Evaluated

What dyslexia is

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) describes dyslexia as one type of reading disorder. It generally refers to difficulty reading individual words, and it can lead to problems understanding text. People with dyslexia often have a hard time sounding out words, understanding written words and naming objects quickly.

MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, explains that people with this condition have trouble connecting the sounds of language to the letters of words. It describes the condition as an information processing problem in areas of the brain that help interpret language. It is not caused by vision problems, and it often runs in families.

MedlinePlus also notes that dyslexia is much broader than confusing or swapping letters, such as mistaking a "b" for a "d."

It is not about intelligence or effort

This is the point many families most need to hear. NICHD states that reading disorders are not a type of intellectual or developmental disorder, and that they are not a sign of lower intelligence or unwillingness to learn. MedlinePlus says the condition does not interfere with thinking ability.

A child who reads slowly may be working harder than anyone else in the room. An adult who avoids reading aloud may have spent years hiding the effort it takes. Neither is a matter of laziness.

Signs at different ages

The sources used here list signs of dyslexia without sorting each one into an age band, and the signs vary from person to person. What they do describe is a general pattern: early signs tend to show in spoken language, and later signs show once reading and spelling are being taught. The groupings below follow that pattern.

• Young children: a research review available through the National Library of Medicine reports that the spoken language weaknesses that come before dyslexia can be seen in the preschool years. NICHD lists a delay in being able to speak, difficulty learning songs and rhymes, and difficulty learning new words among the signs. MedlinePlus mentions trouble rhyming and separating the sounds that make up spoken words
• School-age children: the same review notes that dyslexia is typically identified after a child has been in school for some years without making adequate progress in learning to read. Signs include trouble connecting letters and sounds, difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words, trouble recognizing written words, slow reading both silently and aloud, and poor spelling
• Teens and adults: our sources do not give a separate list for older ages. Signs on the NICHD list that can still apply include a slow rate of reading, giving up on longer reading tasks, poor spelling and trouble learning foreign languages. MedlinePlus lists reading problems that continue and problems with job performance among the possible complications

Why signs are not a diagnosis

NICHD points out that many children have trouble reading or writing at some point, and that this does not mean they have a learning disability. A child with a learning disability often has several related signs that do not go away or get better over time.

Early language delays do not always lead to reading problems. The research review notes that it is not uncommon for children whose language is delayed in the preschool years to catch up.

NICHD is also clear that signs alone are not enough, and that only a professional can diagnose a learning disability. For children learning in a second language, an assessment has to take that into account.

How dyslexia is evaluated

There is no single quick check. NICHD says providers usually use a series of tests to diagnose a reading disorder, assessing a person's memory, spelling abilities, visual perception and reading skills. Family history and a child's history of response to instruction may also be part of it.

MedlinePlus describes the wider picture. A provider asks about developmental, social and school performance, asks whether anyone else in the family has had dyslexia, and checks for other causes of learning and reading difficulties. Psychoeducational testing and psychological assessment may be done.

In general terms, an evaluation for dyslexia looks at:

• Reading: accuracy, speed, and how well written words are recognized and sounded out
• Spelling and written language
• Language skills, including working with the sounds in spoken words
• Memory and other related skills
• History: early development, school progress, earlier help and family history

How we can help

Finding out early matters. MedlinePlus notes that the earlier the condition is discovered, the better the outcome, and that specialized instruction can help improve reading and comprehension.

Locascio Wellness offers a dyslexia evaluation for children, teens and adults, and a wider psychoeducational evaluation that looks at learning, attention and thinking skills together. Evaluations are carried out by secure video for people who are physically located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Arizona, and they are private-pay. For anyone under 18, a parent or guardian arranges the evaluation and takes part. Other types are on our psychological evaluations page.

An evaluation ends with the findings explained in plain language and a written report. We cannot say in advance what an evaluation will find, and a school or testing agency makes its own decision about any support. Public schools also carry out their own evaluations for special education, so it is worth asking your school what it needs.

The first step is the short evaluation request form, where you can tell us your child's age, or a free 15-minute consultation on our booking page. A sliding scale is available. See what evaluations cost.

MedlinePlus notes that many students with learning disabilities have poor self-esteem and that counseling may be helpful. Therapy is a separate service, and therapists on our team offer child therapy by video as ongoing support. If you or your child are in crisis or thinking about self-harm, call or text 988, or call 911. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services.

A clear explanation can change how a child or an adult sees themselves. Reading difficulty has a name, and there are practical ways to work with it.