What are the Signs of Dyslexia in Children?

A learning condition called dyslexia makes reading and language-related skills more difficult. It occurs as a result of abnormalities in the way your brain interprets written language. The majority of people discover they have dyslexia in childhood, and it’s usually a lifetime condition. Developmental dyslexia is another term for this type of dyslexia.

There are three primary subtypes of dyslexia:

• Dyslexia in reading.
• Dyslexia in writing (dysgraphia).
• Dyslexia in mathematics (dyscalculia).

Having difficulty learning to read is the most prevalent symptom of dyslexia. It influences a child’s capacity to identify and work with linguistic sounds. It might be difficult for children with dyslexia to comprehend new words or break them down into small enough pieces that they can sound out. Spelling, writing, and reading become challenging as a result. Although they might make up for it by learning new words by heart, they might struggle to recall even well-known ones and take longer to do so.

Types

Dyslexia is a learning challenge that influences how individuals process language and read. Experts have categorized it into several types to provide targeted support and intervention. Understanding these variations allows educators and parents to develop effective strategies tailored to a child’s specific needs.

1. Phonological Dyslexia

Phonological dyslexia, also known as dysphonetic dyslexia, makes it difficult for a child to separate words into their individual sounds. This makes it difficult to recognize letter-sound relationships, which impacts spelling, pronunciation, and decoding of unfamiliar words.

2. Rapid Naming Dyslexia

Children with rapid naming dyslexia experience delays in recalling and naming letters, numbers, colors, or objects. Although they can recognize these elements, their response time is slower, affecting reading fluency and comprehension.

3. Double Deficit Dyslexia

This type of dyslexia combines both phonological difficulties and rapid naming challenges, making it one of the more severe forms. Children with double-deficit dyslexia struggle with both decoding words and retrieving them quickly, leading to significant delays in reading development.

4. Surface Dyslexia

Also known as dyskinetic or visual dyslexia, surface dyslexia affects word recognition by sight. Children with this condition rely on sounding out words instead of recognizing them instantly, making it particularly challenging to read irregularly spelled words.

5. Visual Dyslexia

Visual dyslexia is linked to difficulties in processing and interpreting visual information. Children with this condition may perceive letters or words as distorted, making reading a challenging and tiring activity.

Causes

Dyslexia’s exact causes are still unclear, but several indicators suggest how and why most cases occur. 

• Dyslexia is highly genetic and tends to run in families, with a 30% to 50% chance of a child born to someone with dyslexia also having it. Genetic conditions such as Down syndrome can also predispose someone to dyslexia. 
• Dyslexia is a form of neurodivergence, indicating that the brain was not designed or does not function the way it should. Studies show that the chemistry, structure, and function of the brain differ in dyslexics. 
• Events such as infections and toxic exposures can interfere with fetal development, altering the structure and function of the brain and raising the risk of dyslexia developing later in life.

Risk Factors

The development of dyslexia can be influenced by several risk factors. These factors include, but are not limited to:

• Exposure to toxins: Pollution of the air and water can increase the likelihood of dyslexia. This is particularly true with nicotine, various compounds used as flame retardants, and heavy metals such as lead or manganese.
• Limited access to reading materials: Children raised in homes with limited access to reading materials or discouraged reading habits are more likely to develop dyslexia.
• Constraints of the learning environment: Children who receive less learning support at school or similar settings are more prone to dyslexia. 

Symptoms

Every individual with dyslexia experiences different indications and symptoms, resulting in a unique set of abilities and limitations. Below is a list of some of the most typical dyslexic symptoms.

Kids with dyslexia may have their writing affected in the following ways:

• Low-quality writing compared to oral skills.
• Messy writing with lots of crossed-out words and repeated usage of words like “wipe,” “wype,” “wiep,” and ” wipe.”
• Bewildered by similar-looking letters, especially b/d, p/g, p/q, n/u, and m/w.
• Messy letter formation and a lot of “reversals” in the handwriting.
• Misspelling a term multiple times in a single piece of writing.
• Creating word anagrams, such as “tired” for “tired” and “bread” for “beard.”
• Producing written work that is ill-organized and deviates from the margin.
• Inappropriate spelling and phonetic writing due to poor pencil grip are not age- or ability-appropriate.
• Employing a peculiar letter or word order.

Kids with dyslexia face the following problems while reading:

• Reading progress is slow.
• Has trouble separating sounds into separate syllables and understanding the beginnings and ends of words. 
• Has trouble fitting letters together.
• Words are spoken strangely.
• Poor understanding of what is being read, and without expression.
• Reading slowly and laboriously, particularly when reading aloud.
• Omitting words from reading or inserting unnecessary words.
• Unable to recognize words that are familiar.
• I find it difficult to identify the most crucial details in a paragraph.
• Losing the meaning of a tale they are reading or writing.

Kids with dyslexia face the following problems in dealing with numbers:

• Misunderstanding place value, such as hundreds, tens, or units.
• Bewildered by symbols like the plus and multiplication signs.
• Memory problems with anything that requires sequential recall, such as tables, the days of the week, or the alphabet.

Kids with dyslexia face the following problems with understanding time:

• I find it tough to understand how to tell time.
• Inadequate time management 
• Poor individual organisation
• Difficulty in memorizing the seasons, months, days of the week, and the day of their birth.
• Confusion regarding yesterday, today, and tomorrow

Kids with dyslexia face the following problems with motor skills:

• Poor motor skills cause flaws in the pencil’s accuracy, control, and speed.
• Difficulty in remembering things, such as rote learning, daily routines, and self-organization.
• Perplexed by the distinctions between east and west, up and down, and left and right.
• Unclear choice of hands.
• Performing differently every day.

Kids with dyslexia face the following problems in their behavior:

• Using work-avoidant strategies, such as looking for books and sharpening pencils when asked to do something.
• Appearing dreamy and not appearing to be listening.
• Getting distracted easily.
• I feel overly exhausted as a result of the effort and focus needed.

When some of the above-mentioned signs occur together with areas of aptitude, dyslexia may be suspected, requiring further investigation.

Prevention

Dyslexia cannot be prevented, but it can be managed with alternative learning and reading techniques. If you notice any early symptoms of dyslexia, you should consult a medical professional. It is important to work with the school to create a personalized education plan for your child. Additionally, it is essential to prioritize your child’s emotional well-being. If your child struggles with anxiety or other dyslexia-related problems, consider seeking mental health treatment for them.

Diagnosis

Dyslexia is a reading issue that can’t be identified through blood testing or laboratory screenings. However, it can be identified through a thorough assessment and testing of typical indicators. When testing for dyslexia, it’s important to consider various factors such as decoding (the process of reading unexpected words via phonetics), verbal communication abilities, reading comprehension and fluency, grammar, lexical content, and word identification.

Conclusion

Though it’s not usually identified at an early age, dyslexia frequently comes to light when kids start learning to read. Many youngsters struggle with reading difficulties throughout school and into life if an early diagnosis is not made.

Children find it difficult to succeed in school when their dyslexia goes undetected. By the time a child is diagnosed with dyslexia in the second grade, they have more time to learn and read in alternative ways.

Some people’s misconceptions regarding dyslexia have caused them to think that those who have it are not intelligent. Despite being inaccurate, children may suffer because of this notion.

Frequently Asked Questions