Do you Know the Red Flags for Dyslexia?

What is dyslexia? What are the red flags?

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurologically-based. It is characterized

by difficulties, despite average or above average intelligence, with:

- spelling

- decoding

- reading fluency

- word recognition

- reading comprehension

Some red flags for a learning disability are:

- delayed speech and/or language skills

- poor phonological skills

- difficulty learning the name of the letters of the alphabet and their sound

- letter and number reversal (*may be normal for certain letters up until grade 2)

- poor verbal memory

- difficulty sounding out simple words (cat, map...)

- difficulty reading frequent sight words (what, the, she...)

- family history of language and/or learning disability

Speech-language pathologists are trained to assess, and treat, skills solicited in reading and writing, such as:

- phonological awareness

- word decoding

- word recognition

- reading fluency

- reading comprehension

- processing speed

- spelling

- grammar

- reading comprehension

- automatic rapid naming

- working memory

- grapheme-phoneme conversion...

If you have any concerns with your child's reading and/or writing skills, you can reach out to your child's school to discuss your concerns. You can also seek out services for a screening or assessment with a speech-language pathologist.

Early identification and intervention are key for long term academic success for a student struggling to read and write!

Sharon Burgess,

M.H..Sc. SLP, Reg. CASLPO