Children Checklist

How can you recognise childhood dyslexia?

Many indicators of dyslexia will remain the same throughout the dyslexic person's lifetime, for example, experiencing problems with sequences and processing information at speed. But there are certain 'telltale' signs to look out for at different ages.

A pre-school child may

have difficulty learning nursery rhymes
enjoy being read to but shows no interest in letters or words
be accused of not paying attention.

" Is yesterday the day after tomorrow?" Richard, aged 5

A child at primary school may

have particular difficulty with reading and spelling
put letters and figures the wrong way round
leave letters out of words or put them in the wrong order
have difficulty following instructions
find it hard to remember multiplication tables.

But otherwise be bright and alert.

" It's not nice when my teacher tells the rest of my class that they don't want to be like me. He doesn't stop to think that maybe sometimes I don't want to be like me either."
Alistair, aged 9.

A young person aged 12 or more may

still read inaccurately
still have problems spelling
have difficulty planning and writing essays
have poor confidence and low self-esteem.

" When I am reading I understand what is being said totally. But when I have finished and try to recall what I have read my mind is blank."
Colin, aged 18.

Extracts from British Dyslexia Association Leaflet

Follow this link to the BDA Indications of Dyslexia pages
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West Cumbria Dyslexia Association: Contact Doris Pearce 07863 329747

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