Does My Child Have Dyslexia?

What Signs Should I Look For?

One of the questions many parents ask is:

“How do I know if this is dyslexia, or if my child is just finding reading difficult?”

The truth is, all children learn at different rates. But with dyslexia, the difficulties are usually persistent and don’t improve in the way you would normally expect, even with practice and support.

Dyslexia is not linked to intelligence. Many dyslexic children are bright, creative, curious, and very capable — they simply process language differently.

Here are some common signs parents and teachers often notice.

Early Signs in Younger Children

Before children even start reading properly, there can sometimes be early indicators such as:

• delayed speech development,

• difficulty learning nursery rhymes,

• trouble remembering sequences,

• mixing up words,

• difficulty recognising letter sounds,

• or struggling to remember the names of colours, letters, or days of the week.

Not every child with these difficulties is dyslexic, but they can be early clues.

Signs at Primary School Age

As children move through primary school, the signs often become more noticeable.

Parents may notice:

• reading that is slow or hesitant,

• difficulty sounding out words,

• guessing words rather than reading them,

• poor spelling that seems inconsistent,

• struggling to remember sight words,

• avoiding reading altogether,

• difficulty following written instructions,

• frustration with homework,

• or becoming very tired after reading and writing tasks.

Some children also reverse letters, although this on its own is not always a sign of dyslexia.

Writing Difficulties

Children with dyslexia often struggle with writing too.

You may notice:

• messy handwriting,

• missing words,

• difficulty organising thoughts on paper,

• very short written answers despite good verbal understanding,

• slow writing speed,

• or complaints that writing is “too hard.”

If writing difficulties are significant, there may also be dysgraphia involved, which affects written expression and the physical process of writing.

The Emotional Signs

Sometimes the emotional signs appear before the academic ones.

A child may:

• say they are “stupid,”

• become anxious about school,

• avoid reading aloud,

• get upset over homework,

• lose confidence,

• complain of tummy aches before school,

• or start masking difficulties through behaviour or avoidance.

Often, these children are working incredibly hard behind the scenes.

What Dyslexia Does Not Mean

Dyslexia does not mean:

• your child is lazy,

• they are not intelligent,

• they are not trying,

• or they cannot succeed academically.

Many dyslexic children have excellent problem-solving skills, creativity, imagination, verbal reasoning, and big-picture thinking.

The difficulty is usually with processing written language — not with learning overall.

When Should You Seek Help?

If the difficulties are ongoing and seem noticeably different from peers of a similar age, it is worth speaking to:

• your child’s class teacher,

• the school SENCO,

• or a dyslexia specialist.

Early support can make a huge difference — not only academically, but emotionally too.

Parents often worry they are overreacting. In reality, trusting your instincts early is usually helpful.

A Diagnosis Is About Understanding, Not Labelling

Many parents fear that a diagnosis will “label” their child.

In practice, many children actually feel relieved once their difficulties are understood properly. A diagnosis can help explain why things feel harder and open the door to the right support and strategies.

Most importantly, dyslexia does not limit a child’s potential.

With understanding, support, and the right learning approaches, dyslexic children can and do thrive — both in school and beyond.