If your child struggles with reading, they may suffer from dyslexia. Dyslexia can take many forms, but its impact can derail academic success as reading skills become necessary to learn about all other topics as children age. Common signs of dyslexia include the following:
Reading Decoding
- Excessively sounds out words when reading
- Excessively memorizes words rather than sounding them out
- Makes substitution errors based on similar sounding words (e.g., pat for bat)
- Makes substitution errors based on similar meaning words (e.g., cap for hat)
Reading Comprehension
- Trouble understanding what they are reading
- Unable to identify the main points of what was read
- Easily distracted while reading
- Does not pick up important details
Attitude
- Actively avoids reading
- Becomes anxious while reading
- Does not read for pleasure
If you or others recognize a number of these symptoms in your child, an evaluation with a neuropsychologist can help determine whether your child has dyslexia. Diagnosis is integral to academic success, allowing your child to receive the help they need both in and out of school.
Reference:
Miller, D., & Maricle, D. (2019). Essentials of school neuropsychological assessment (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.