Symptoms

Dyslexia can only be formally diagnosed by an Educational Psychologist or a Specialist Dyslexia Teacher. As a rough guide someone with dyslexia, dyslexic tendencies or other related conditions, will normally exhibit about 8 – 10 of the behaviours and traits mentioned below. These can of course alter from day to day.

Am I Dyslexic?

General
• Is bright and articulate, but unable to read, write or spell at appropriate level
• Seen as lazy, careless, immature, may have ‘behavioural problems’
• Daydreamer, gets lost easily, has a poor sense of time
• Limited attention span
• Learns best through experience, observation, ‘hands-on’ and visual aids
• Low self-esteem, covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies, easily frustrated

Reading
• Skips or misreads lines or words
• Poor comprehension, may have to read same thing two or three times
• Struggles to focus on and understand text
• Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth, perception and peripheral vision

Hearing and Speech
• Easily distracted
• Difficulty putting thoughts into words
• Has extended hearing; hears things not said or apparent to others
• May mispronounce words or stammers

Co-ordination and Writing
• Problems with writing or copying, unusual pen grip, often presses too hard
• Handwriting illegible or variable
• Clumsy, poor balance, may have/had problems tying shoelaces or riding a bike

Maths
• Finds it difficult to remember times tables, telephone numbers or other sequential information
• Knows the answer, but cannot show on paper how they got there
• Difficulty with word problems