What dyslexia is
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. The core difficulty is with phonological processing: noticing, remembering and manipulating the sounds in words. Working memory and processing speed are also often affected.
Dyslexia is not caused by poor vision, lack of effort or low intelligence. It is one of several learning disabilities; see is ADHD a learning disability.
Early signs in preschool children
- Talking later than other children; see late talker.
- Persistent difficulty pronouncing long words and mixing up sounds, such as “aminal” for animal.
- Difficulty learning nursery rhymes and noticing words that rhyme.
- Trouble learning the alphabet, letter names and letter sounds.
- Difficulty remembering the names of colours, numbers or days of the week.
- A family history of reading difficulties.
These signs do not mean a child definitely has dyslexia, but they suggest closer monitoring and support with sound awareness. See phonological processes.
Signs in primary school children
- Slow, hesitant reading that does not match the child’s spoken ability.
- Difficulty sounding out new words, and guessing from the first letter or pictures.
- Spelling the same word in different ways, and spelling by sound.
- Confusing letters that look similar, such as b and d, beyond the early years.
- Avoiding reading aloud, and tiredness after reading.
- Messy written work with many errors, though ideas are good.
- Difficulty following several instructions at once.
Signs in teenagers and adults
- Reading slowly and needing to reread to understand.
- Avoiding reading and writing tasks.
- Persistent spelling errors.
- Difficulty taking notes, planning essays and managing time.
- Difficulty learning a foreign language.
- Strong verbal reasoning, creativity and problem-solving in contrast with written work.
The emotional impact
Children with unrecognised dyslexia may be described as lazy or not trying, which can lead to frustration, low self-esteem, anxiety and behaviour problems. Recognising dyslexia and explaining it to the child often brings relief. Praising effort and strengths, and finding activities where the child succeeds, is as important as academic support.
How dyslexia is assessed
A first step is usually to talk to the child’s teacher or the school’s special educational needs coordinator, who can arrange screening and extra support. A full diagnostic assessment is carried out by an educational psychologist or a specialist teacher, looking at reading, spelling, phonological skills, memory and processing speed.
Hearing and vision should be checked to rule out other causes. A speech and language therapist assesses spoken language when there are concerns about understanding, vocabulary or speech sounds, which often coexist with dyslexia.
The role of speech and language therapy
- Developing phonological awareness: rhyme, syllables and identifying sounds in words.
- Supporting vocabulary, sentence structure and understanding of language.
- Working on speech sound difficulties; see speech therapy exercises.
- Strategies for following instructions and memory.
- Working with teachers and families on a consistent approach.
Support at school and at home
- Structured, systematic phonics teaching, in small steps with lots of practice.
- Multisensory learning: seeing, hearing, saying and writing letters together.
- Extra time in exams, reading software, audiobooks and speech-to-text tools.
- Reading together at home for enjoyment, without pressure.
- Breaking tasks into small steps and using visual organisers.
Conditions that can look similar or occur together
- Developmental language disorder: difficulties understanding and using spoken language, which also affect reading comprehension.
- ADHD: attention difficulties often coexist with dyslexia and affect reading stamina.
- Dyspraxia (DCD): coordination difficulties that affect handwriting.
- Dyscalculia: specific difficulty with numbers.
- Hearing or vision problems: should always be ruled out.
Because these often overlap, a team approach involving teachers, psychologists and speech and language therapists gives the clearest picture.
When to seek an assessment
- A child who is not making progress with reading despite good teaching and support.
- A large gap between spoken ability and reading or writing.
- Early speech and language difficulties together with a family history of dyslexia.
- A child who is becoming distressed or avoiding school because of reading.
- Adults who have always struggled with reading and spelling and want to understand why.
Key points to remember
- Dyslexia affects reading and spelling, not intelligence.
- Early clues include late talking, difficulty with rhymes and letter sounds.
- Assessment is by an educational psychologist or specialist teacher.
- Structured phonics teaching, adjustments and emotional support help.
Questions about signs of dyslexia
These answers are general information and do not replace an examination or individual medical advice.
What are the first signs of dyslexia?
Late talking, difficulty with rhymes and learning letter names and sounds are common early clues.
At what age can dyslexia be diagnosed?
It is usually diagnosed from about 7 years, but signs can be noticed and supported earlier.
Is dyslexia a disability?
It is considered a specific learning difficulty and can be recognised as a disability for support and adjustments.
Does reversing letters mean dyslexia?
Not on its own. Letter reversals are common in young children learning to write.
Can a speech therapist diagnose dyslexia?
Diagnosis is usually by an educational psychologist or specialist teacher; speech therapists assess and support language skills.
Can dyslexia be cured?
It is lifelong, but the right teaching and strategies make a big difference.
Is dyslexia genetic?
It often runs in families, and children with a parent or sibling with dyslexia have a higher risk.
Sources
This guide is for general information and does not replace medical advice. How a problem is diagnosed and treated depends on your examination and medical history. If you think you have an emergency, contact your local emergency services.