Badge

Symptoms & Early Indicators of Dyslexia of Dyslexia in Infants

Symptoms & Early Indicators of Dyslexia in Infants

Age range: approximately up to 7 years

Dyslexia is a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) that primarily affects the development of literacy skills.

The signs listed below are indicators only and do not constitute a diagnosis.

If a child shows several of the following indicators, further investigation may be appropriate. Likewise, if these difficulties persist beyond the age at which most children have grown out of them, they may indicate a risk of dyslexia, and professional advice should be sought.

For ease of reading, s/he should be transposed where appropriate.

Dyslexia: Areas of Difficulty

Speech, Language, and Communication

Does the child:

  • Have delayed speech, unclear speech, or a noticeable lisp?
  • Frequently search for words or mislabel objects?
  • Confuse colours (e.g. saying blue is green or red is yellow)?

Motor Skills and Coordination

Does the child:

  • Have difficulty getting dressed, such as:
    • Putting shoes on the correct feet
    • Doing up buttons
    • Managing laces
  • Appear clumsy, frequently tripping, bumping into things, or falling over?
  • Struggle with physical games such as:
    • Catching a ball
    • Skipping
    • Hopping
  • Grip pencils or crayons too tightly?

Auditory Processing, Rhythm, and Sequencing

Does the child:

  • Find it difficult to clap a rhythm back accurately?
  • Struggle to put things in sequence, such as:
    • Nursery rhymes
    • Numbers up to ten
    • Days of the week
    • The alphabet

Early Literacy and Concept Awareness

Does the child:

  • Enjoy listening to stories but show little interest in print or written words?
  • Confuse positional or directional concepts such as:
    • Under/over
    • Up/down
  • Find it difficult to identify an odd word out (e.g. cat, mat, pig, fat)?

Attention, Perception, and Everyday Skills

Does the child:

  • Appear bright but struggle with tasks others consider simple?
  • Get labelled as “lazy” or “not paying attention” despite trying?
  • Have difficulty sorting or sequencing coloured objects (e.g. threading beads in a given colour order)?

Dyslexia: Strengths Often Observed

Despite early difficulties, children with dyslexia frequently show notable strengths.

Does the child:

  • Think quickly and demonstrate original or imaginative ideas?
  • Show strengths in:
    • Creativity
    • Art
    • Colour awareness
  • Enjoy and excel at construction or problem-solving play, such as:
    • Lego or building blocks
    • Remote-controlled toys
    • Keyboards or technology-based activities?

Important Notes

Early identification and appropriate support are key to success.

Although there is no cure for dyslexia, research shows that difficulties can be significantly reduced with the right teaching approaches and understanding at home and school.

Children vary greatly at this age, and no single indicator on its own suggests dyslexia.

An Educational Psychologist or other appropriately qualified specialist can diagnose dyslexia as part of a full assessment.

This information is a guide only and does not constitute medical or psychological advice.

If you are concerned about your child, you should seek professional advice as early as possible.

© Maria Chivers & Dr David E Cowell – 2019
Coordinated edition – Feb 2026
www.dyslexiaa2z.com

Maria Chivers & Dr David E Cowell – 2019
www.dyslexiaa2z.com

  • Symptoms/Indicators of Dyslexia - Seven Plus

    Symptoms/Indicators of Dyslexia – Seven Plus

    * Age Range approximately from age 7 to 11 years

    If a child has several of these indicators, further investigations should be made.  Likewise, if these issues continue beyond the time that the average child has grown out of them, they may indicate dyslexia, and advice should be sought.

    Dyslexia: Reading & Spelling

    When the student reads and spells, does s/he frequently:

    • Confuse letters that look similar: d – b; u – n; m – n?
    • Confuse letters that sound the same: v; f; th?
    • Reverse words: was – saw; now – won?
    • Transpose words: left – felt?
    • Read a word correctly and then further down the page, read it wrong?
    • Change words around: the cat sat on the mat (the mat sat on the cat)?
    • Confuse small words: of, for, from?
    • When reading has difficulty in keeping the correct place on a line and frequently loses his/her place?
    • Read correctly but does not understand what s/he is reading?

    Dyslexia: Writing

    Even after frequent instruction does s/he still:

    • Not know whether to use his/her right or left hand?
    • Leave out capital letters or use them in the wrong places?
    • Forget to dot the ‘i’s, and cross ‘t’s?
    • Form letters and numbers badly?
    • Slope his/her writing, even when using margins and guidelines?
    • Use punctuation and paragraphs in the wrong places, or not at all?

    Dyslexia: other Indicators

    • Is there a family history of dyslexia or similar difficulties?
    • Was s/he a late developer?
    • Is s/he easily distracted and has poor concentration?
    • Does s/he get confused between:
      • left/right;
      • east/west;
      • up/down;
      • over/under?
    • Does s.he hold a pen too tightly and awkwardly?
    • Does s/he have problems telling the time?
    • Does s/he have problems with tying shoelaces etc?
    • Does s/he have short-term memory problems relating to printed words and instructions?
    • Mixed laterality (i.e. uses either right or left hands or eyes, in writing and other tasks).
    • Does s/he have particular difficulty copying from a blackboard?
    • Does s/he have confusion with mathematical symbols (plus/minus etc)?
    • Does s/he have short-term memory problems relating to printed words and instructions?
    • Does s/he have an inability to follow more than one instruction at a time?
    • Is s/he unable to use a dictionary or telephone directory?
    • Does s/he have sequencing difficulties:
      • alphabet;
      • nursery rhymes;
      • months of the year;
      • numbers in tables?

    Early Diagnosis is the key to success!

    The earlier dyslexia is diagnosed, the easier it is to ensure the child receives the correct support at home and at school. Although there is no cure for dyslexia, research has shown the problems can be alleviated with the proper tuition.

    Please bear in mind that children vary tremendously at this age. An Educational Psychologist and some other specialists can diagnose someone with Dyslexia.

    This is a guide only and does not constitute medical or psychological advice.

    If you are concerned about your child, you should seek professional advice as early as possible.

    Maria Chivers & Dr David E Cowell – 2019
    www.dyslexiaa2z.com

Alli Can't Write . . . Or Can He? Book on Dysgraphia (Handwriting Difficulties)

Alli Can’t Write . . . Or Can He?

A Storybook for Children with Dysgraphia (Handwriting Difficulties) and a Guide for Adults Who Want to Help.

Amazon UK or

Amazon.com

Latest Dyslexia Posts

View all Dyslexia posts
Facebook LinkedIn Twitter