How does one recognize dyslexia (SLD)?

Basically, we talk about primary dyslexia when the following factors can be observed:

• A child’s intermittent inattention when writing, reading, or calculating, i.e., as soon as he encounters letters and/or numbers.
• Differentiated sensory perceptions are not sufficiently developed for learning writing, reading, and arithmetic (calculation).
• Perceptual mistakes due to blurred sensory perceptions and the resulting inattention.

Online Dyslexia Self-Test

Reading

1. Struggles to ‘hear’ sounds.
2. Is noticeably inconsistent when reading, e.g. recognising a word then later making errors with the same word.
3. Is working at a significantly lower reading level than that of their peers.
4. Is a slow reader or makes unexpected errors when reading.
5. Finds it difficult to keep track of their place when reading.
6. Reports that words are moving around the page.
7. Is reluctant to read, whether to themselves or aloud to a teacher of the class.
8. Reads a word, then fails to recognise or read it again later in the text.
9. Struggles to remember what has been read.
10. Struggles to copy information down when reading from the board.
11. Is excessively tired after a reading or spelling session.

Spelling

1. Forgets how to spell short and familiar words.
2. Mixes the order of letters when spelling words.
3. Struggles to spell unfamiliar words.
4. Has difficultly with phonemes.
5. Spells words in inconsistent ways. 

Writing

1. Is able to speak articulately about a story or answer but struggles to put it into writing.
2. Struggles recording ideas on paper when writing.
3. Struggles taking notes.
4. Reverses letters and numbers, e.g. writes 15 for 51, b for d, etc.
5. Has poor handwriting and/or struggles to hold the pen/pencil correctly.
6. Has difficulty writing fluently.
7. Makes mistakes when writing, including letter reversals, confused starting
8. Points and irregular size.
9. Can answer question orally but has difficulty writing the answers down

Memory

1. Forgets names of familiar people or objects.
2. Struggles to recall items from a list.
3. Can find learning things by rote difficult.
4. Loses train of thought easily.
5. Has difficulties carrying out three instructions in sequence.
6. Struggles to learn sequences such as days of the week or the alphabet.
7. Struggles to remember sequential routines.
8. Quickly forgets newly learned skills (poor short term/working memory).

Behaviour/Other

1. Other members of the family have similar difficulties.
2. Has trouble learning nursery rhymes or songs.
3. Is distracted easily by background noise.
4. Is disruptive to the class, especially when completing literacy-based tasks.
5. Has difficulties with distinguishing between left and right.
6. Has difficulties with coordination.
7. Has difficulties with organisation.
8. Struggles with mental arithmetic or learning times tables.
9. Seems to struggle with maths and/or understanding terminology in maths.
10. Seems bright in some ways but unexpectedly struggles in others.
11. Will become more ‘off task’ when working on literacy activities, e.g. taking trips to the toilet, talking to peers.
12. Has anxiety about or negative attitude towards literacy.
13. Seems to get frustrated easily or suffers unduly with stress and/or low self-esteem.
14. Needs an unexpected amount of support and/or time with classwork and homework.
15. Is excessively tired after a day at school.
16. Creates a reduced quantity of work completed compared to peers.
17. Has difficulties understanding time and tense.
18. Has a talent for visual and/or kinaesthetic learning activities but struggles with other tasks.

If you registered more Yes than No, please fill in the form below to get an appointment for a full educational assessment with our specialist to diagnose if your child has problems related to Specific Learning disorders particularly dyslexia, and help your child address their difficulties.