Dyslexia Signs & Symptoms
Dyslexia Test/Online Screening
Dyslexia IS. . .
• A way of thinking based on visual-spatial talents
• A three – dimensional thought process
• Often labeled as an auditory processing or a visual perception deficiency
• Something that can be helped at its root level
• Both a gift and a challenge
Dyslexics. . .
• Have vivid imaginations
• Remember incredible details from various experiences they’ve done
• Are smart, but often unable to prove it in school
• Often love to build and create with their hands
• Are creative, “out of the box,” thinkers
• Are very curious about how/why things work
• Think mainly in pictures
• Avoid written instructions, yet easily complete a 3-D project
• Experience high levels of confusion with language symbols
• Create excellent mental thoughts, but cannot transfer thoughts to paper
• Often become highly successful individuals
Dyslexia is NOT. . .
• Something one “outgrows”
• A disease
• A process to be ashamed of
• Best “fixed” with “tricks” and compensatory methods
Dyslexia Test/Online Screening
37 Common Characteristics of Dyslexia
Most dyslexics will exhibit about 10 of the following traits and behaviors. These characteristics can vary from day-to-day or minute-to-minute. The most consistent characteristic about dyslexics is their inconsistency.
General
- Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level
- Labeled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, “not trying hard enough,” or “behavior problem”
- Isn’t “behind enough” or “bad enough” to be helped in the school setting
- High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests well orally, but not written
- Feels dumb; has poor self-esteem; hides or covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies; easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing
- Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building, or engineering
- Seems to “Zone out” or daydream often; gets lost easily or loses track of time
- Difficulty sustaining attention; seems “hyper” or “daydreamer”
- Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids
Vision, Reading, and Spelling
- Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading
- Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations
- Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words
- Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing, or copying
- Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don’t reveal a problem
- Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception and peripheral vision
- Reads and rereads with little comprehension
- Spells phonetically and inconsistently
Hearing and Speech
- Has extended hearing; hears things not said or apparent to others; easily distracted by sounds
- Difficulty putting thoughts into words; speaks in halting phrases; leaves sentences incomplete; stutters under stress; mispronounces long words, or transposes phrases, words, and syllables when speaking
Writing and Motor Skills
- Trouble with writing or copying; pencil grip is unusual; handwriting varies or is illegible
- Clumsy, uncoordinated, poor at ball or team sports; difficulties with fine and/or gross motor skills and tasks; prone to motion-sickness
- Can be ambidextrous, and often confuses left/right, over/under
Math and Time Management
- Has difficulty telling time, managing time, learning sequenced information or tasks, or being on time
- Computing math shows dependence on finger counting and other tricks; knows answers, but can’t do it on paper
- Can count, but has difficulty counting objects and dealing with money
- Can do arithmetic, but fails word problems; cannot grasp algebra or higher math
Memory and Cognition
- Excellent long-term memory for experiences, locations, and faces
- Poor memory for sequences, facts and information that has not been experienced
- Thinks primarily with images and feeling, not sounds or words (little internal dialogue)
Behavior, Health, Development and Personality
- Extremely disorderly or compulsively orderly
- Can be class clown, trouble-maker, or too quiet
- Had unusually early or late developmental stages (talking, crawling, walking, tying shoes)
- Prone to ear infections; sensitive to foods, additives, and chemical products
- Can be an extra deep or light sleeper; bedwetting beyond appropriate age
- Unusually high or low tolerance for pain
- Strong sense of justice; emotionally sensitive; strives for perfection
- Mistakes and symptoms increase dramatically with confusion, time pressure, emotional stress, or poor health
From the article, “37 Common Characteristics of Dyslexia” (© 1992 by Ronald D. Davis)
Reprinted with Permission
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