Download PDF - Signs & Symptoms of Dyslexia
Signs & Symptoms of Dyslexia
In Preschoolers:
- Delayed speech
- Mixing up the sounds or syllables in long words
- Chronic ear infections
- Severe reactions to childhood illnesses
- Constant confusion of left versus right
- Late establishing a dominant hand
- Difficulty learning to tie shoes
- Trouble memorizing his/her address, phone number, or the alphabet
- Can't create words that rhyme
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In Highschool:
All of the earlier symptoms plus:
- limited vocabulary
- extremely poor written expression
- large discrepancy between verbal and written communication
- unable to master a foreign language
- difficulty reading printed music
- poor grades in many classes
- may drop out of high school
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In Elementary School:
- Dysgraphia, (the slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read.)
- Letter or number reversals continuing past first grade
- Extreme difficulty learning cursive
- Slow, choppy inaccurate reading: guesses based on shape or context; skips or misreads prepositions (at, to, of); ignores suffixes; can't sound out unknown words
- Terrible spelling
- Often can't remember sight words (they, were, does) or homonyms (their, they're and there)
- Difficulty telling time on a clock with hands
- Trouble with math: memorizing multiplication tables; memorizing a sequence of steps; directionality
- Extremely messy bedroom, backpack, and desk
- Dreads going to school; complains of stomach aches or headaches; may have nightmares about school
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In Adults:
Educational history similar to above, plus:
- Slow reader
- May have to read a page two or three times to understand it
- Terrible speller
- Difficulty putting thoughts onto paper; dreads writing memos or letters
- Still has difficulty with right versus left
- Often gets lost, even in a familiar city
- Sometimes confuses b and d, especially when tired or sick
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Copyright © 2001 by Susan Barton. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Since 40% of dyslexic individuals also are ADD / ADHD, the following chart is also provided as useful information.
Download PDF - Signs & Symptoms of ADD/ADHD
| Signs & Symptoms of ADD/ADHD
If a child frequently displays many of these symptoms, their behaviour is age and situation-inappropriate, and it is interfering with the child's ability to be successful in school, that child's parents and teachers should learn more about ADD/ADHD.
Physical Activity
- Either:
- Can't sit still, feels restless; has boundless energy; always fidgeting, restless feet, etc.
- Or:
- Couch potato, lethargic, slow, space cadet, physically there - mentally gone
Frequent mood swings:
- Feels emotions intensely; Higher highs and lower lows; Low tolerance for frustration. May have rage attacks
Attention
- Trouble deciding what to pay attention to or what's important
- Trouble getting started on a task; often feels overwhelmed
- Trouble staying focused on repetitive tasks until the task is complete; can't do homework independently
- Trouble shifting attention to a new task
Highly Distractible
- Distracted by any change in environment; Any noise, movement, or smell
- Also distracted by their own thoughts; Daydreamer
- Can't stay focused for long; except Nintendo-type games or TV, or a new or scary activity. May hyperfocus on a hobby
- Starts many projects; But rarely finishes them
Impulsive
- Can't wait to be called on; Blurts out answers in class
- Extremely impatient; Difficulty to wait for his/her turn
- Often acts before thinking; Doesn't seem to learn from mistakes
Behaviour in the Classroom:
- overly excitable during group play
- impulsive behaviour
- impatient
- severe reactions to failure
- temper tantrums
- poor visual motor coordination
- slow to complete work
- easily confused by instructions
- poor time management
- lots of careless errors; won't slow down or double-check their work
- chatterbox; talks excessively, interrupts
- forgets rules and blurts out answer before question is finished
- bossy
- strong sense of justice / fairness
- doesn't turn in homework
- insatiable demand
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Doesn't Listen Well
- Confused by multi-step oral directions
No tolerance for boredom
- May start arguments if things are too calm
Time Management
- Always rushing; can't slow down
- Makes careless mistakes; Hates to doublecheck
- Doesn't use class time well; Feels rushed by teachers & parents; Puts things off until the last minute
Odd Sleep Cycles
- Night owl, hates to go to bed
- Difficult to wake up in the morning
- May be a restless sleeper
- Bedwetting or sleepwalking
Inconsistent Performance
- Good days and bad days; Some days they can do the schoolwork; Other days they can't
Disorganized
- Messy room, desk, backpack; Constantly loses or misplaces things
Other Symptoms
- Chatterbox; talks excessively; Interrupts conversations frequently
- Strong sense of justice; bossy
- Lots of allergies
- Terrible penmanship
- Trouble remembering daily routines
- Relatives with ADD/ADHD
- wants to be centre of attention
- very self-centred
- extraordinarily persistent
- perpetual hunger for new and novel activities
- chronically restless
- no tolerance for boredom
- disturbed sleep patterns (night owl)
- lots of allergies
- excessive display of affection
- fail to anticipate consequences of actions
- overly gullible; easily led by peers
- moody
- never finish what they start; jump from task to task
- doesn't appear to listen
- love dangerous physical activities
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Caveats and Conclusions
- All kids do these things some of the time; it's the clustering of symptoms, the intensity, and the persistence of symptoms. ADD/ADHD students do not display age appropriate behaviours. These are normal behaviours taken to the excess.
- ADD/ADHD student is in a constant state of overwhelm and anxiety; to them, world is very unpredictable; fight or flight / panic responses
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Copyright © 2002 by Susan Barton. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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