October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month. Individuals with dyslexia experience unexpected difficulties learning to read despite average to above average cognitive abilities. Dyslexia impacts approximately 15%-20% of the population (Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity, 2017). Depictions of dyslexia in popular tv shows and movies suggest that individuals with dyslexia see letters and words backwards. As a parent or caregiver, you might be alarmed when your young child’s early writing attempts include letter or number reversals. This article will dispel this commonly held belief and provide information about the early signs of dyslexia in young children.
Contrary to popular belief, dyslexia is not a visual disorder that results in seeing letters or words backwards. Young children learning to read and write often reverse letters, numbers, and words when writing. In fact, reversals are quite common in children with and without dyslexia up through the second grade. If reversals are not a reliable indicator of dyslexia, what signs should concerned caregivers look for in their preschool-aged child?
Before answering this question, let’s take a closer look at the definition of dyslexia. According to leading researcher Sally Shaywitz, M.D., dyslexia is a language-based disorder caused by difficulties processing the sounds of spoken language. These language processing problems result in difficulties learning to read accurately and fluently. Shaywitz’s research has suggested that there is a neurological basis for dyslexia. Brain scans reveal both structural and functional differences in the brains of individuals with and without dyslexia.
As fluent readers, most of us are no longer aware of the cognitive processes at work while reading. We recognize most words automatically and rarely need to slow down and analyze an unfamiliar word. Let’s examine some of the language processes needed to learn how to read the word cat. The person first needs to recognize the individual letters in the written word (C – A – T) and associate a sound with each written letter (C says /c/, A says /a/, and T says /t/). Then the person must blend those individual sounds to form the word before finally drawing upon oral language to assign a mental picture to the word. An individual with dyslexia may have trouble with one or more of those language processing tasks. This example provides a simplified illustration of the complicated language processes involved in reading an individual word. This cognitive effort is multiplied when reading numerous words and sentences on a page of a book.
Perhaps it is not surprising then that delayed language development is one of the earliest signs of dyslexia. Preschoolers at risk for dyslexia may talk less and know fewer words. They might mispronounce words, such as saying “aminal” for animal or “busghetti” for spaghetti. They may also have difficulty finding the right words and may call things by the wrong name. Other early signs of dyslexia include the following:
- Difficulty recognizing rhyming words
- Difficulty learning colors, numbers, and letters
- Difficulty remembering the sounds of letters
- Difficulty distinguishing the letters in their name
- Difficulty following multi-step directions
- Difficulty retelling stories or events in a logical sequence
- Difficulty memorizing common nursery rhymes or songs
The good news is that individuals with dyslexia can learn to read with appropriate instruction and supports. Many preschools and elementary schools screen for dyslexia and other reading delays. These screenings are used to determine a child’s need for early reading interventions. If you are concerned about your young child’s reading development, speak with your child’s teachers or therapists about possible screening options available. Future articles will explore ways parents and caregivers can encourage the development of early reading skills at home.
References and Resources
International Dyslexia Association. (n.d.) Common signs of dyslexia. https://www.readingrockets.org/article/common-signs-dyslexia-0
The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity. (2017). Signs of dyslexia. https://dyslexia.yale.edu/dyslexia/signs-of-dyslexia/
Understood for All. (n.d.) Signs of dyslexia at different ages. https://www.understood.org/articles/en/checklist-signs-of-dyslexia-at-different-ages?_sp=ea6d05bd-5c7e-4412-bfd7-be28789e82c5.1634432602041
Dr. Krislyn Carlson is a K-5 special education teacher with the Beresford Public School District. She has twenty-two years of experience teaching special education at the elementary and middle school levels. Krislyn obtained her doctorate degree with an emphasis on special education and administration from the University of South Dakota. Current interests include adapting literacy and language instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities and complex communication needs.