Dyslexia Warning Signs to Know for Literacy Instruction

Recognizing dyslexia warning signs is crucial for effective literacy instruction. These signs, like struggles with phonological awareness and reading comprehension, can hinder a student's ability to read, write, and engage with language, impacting their overall learning experience.

1. Difficulty with phonological awareness

   • Struggles to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken words.
   • Difficulty rhyming or identifying syllables in words.
   • Challenges in segmenting words into individual sounds (phonemes).

2. Trouble with letter-sound correspondence

   • Difficulty associating letters with their corresponding sounds.
   • Struggles to decode words when reading.
   • Often confuses similar-looking letters (e.g., b and d).

3. Slow and laborious reading

   • Reads at a significantly slower pace than peers.
   • Often pauses frequently and struggles to sound out words.
   • Reading may lack fluency, affecting overall comprehension.

4. Poor spelling skills

   • Frequently misspells common words and struggles with spelling rules.
   • Difficulty applying phonetic principles to spelling.
   • Spelling errors may include phonetic substitutions or omissions.

5. Difficulty with rapid naming tasks

   • Struggles to quickly name familiar objects, colors, or numbers.
   • May experience delays in retrieving words during conversation.
   • Rapid naming difficulties can impact reading fluency.

6. Struggles with reading comprehension

   • Difficulty understanding and recalling what has been read.
   • Often misses the main idea or key details in texts.
   • May struggle to make inferences or draw conclusions from reading.

7. Avoidance of reading activities

   • Shows reluctance or refusal to engage in reading tasks.
   • May express frustration or anxiety related to reading.
   • Tends to prefer activities that do not involve reading.

8. Difficulty learning and remembering new vocabulary

   • Struggles to acquire and retain new words and their meanings.
   • Often has a limited vocabulary compared to peers.
   • May have difficulty using new vocabulary in context.

9. Problems with writing and handwriting

   • Exhibits poor handwriting that may be difficult to read.
   • Struggles to organize thoughts and ideas in writing.
   • Often has difficulty with grammar and punctuation.

10. Challenges with sequencing and following directions

    • Difficulty understanding and remembering multi-step instructions.
    • Struggles to organize tasks or events in a logical order.
    • May frequently ask for clarification or repetition of directions.