Signs of dyslexia in the early years

Potential indicators of dyslexia in young children

The following signs may indicate dyslexia. Lots of young children make similar mistakes or display similar behaviours. The severity of the difficulties and length of time that they persist is key.

Potential indicators

• Difficulty learning nursery rhymes or the alphabet

• Difficulty paying attention, sitting still, listening to stories

• Likes listening to stories but shows no interest in letters or words

• Muddles words e.g. cubumber, flutterby

• Difficulty keeping simple rhythm

• Finds it hard to carry out two or more instructions at one time, (e.g. put the toys in the box, then put it on the shelf)

• Forgets names of friends, colours etc.

• Poor auditory discrimination

• Confusion between directional words e.g. up/down

• Family history of dyslexia/reading difficulties

• Difficulty sequencing e.g. coloured beads, classroom routines

• Substitutes words e.g. "lampshade" for "lamppost"

Next steps

If you notice several of these signs in your child, it may be helpful to discuss your observations with a Special Educational Needs Disability Coordinator (SENDCo) in your child's early years setting. Early help can reduce the chance of low confidence and self-esteem.

A formal diagnosis of dyslexia can only be made through a comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment. These assessments are typically done when a child is around 7 years old or older, as by this age, their reading and language skills are more developed, allowing for a more accurate evaluation.

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I would thoroughly recommend Olivia if you require a comprehensive dyslexia assessment. My son was treated with kindness and professionalism during his recent assessment.

Becky, mother of Luke aged 8 years (August 2024)

We found the whole experience of working with Olivia easy, professional, detailed and yet also warm and empathetic.

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