Does Your Kid Have Dyslexia? 10 Signs to Look Out For

Reading is a complex operation for the human brain, and lots of kids struggle to get the hang of it. Many parents find themselves wondering if their kids’ reading challenges are a temporary phase or if their child has an underlying learning disability. Difficulties with reading are associated with several processing disorders, and dyslexia is the most common among them. Fortunately, disabilities like dyslexia are never a measure of intellectual ability. Kids with dyslexia can succeed in school if they receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate classroom support. 

Should your kid be tested for dyslexia? Check out 10 common signs that often lead to a diagnosis:

1. Are silent letters particularly tough?

English is a difficult language to learn as it can be unpredictable or downright paradoxical. Why doesn’t “through” rhyme with “enough”? Who decided that “knife” needs a “k” and “pterodactyl” needs a “p”? 

Quirky words can be challenging for any kid, but kids with dyslexia will find it especially difficult to wrap their minds around words that break typical spelling rules. If your child seems to consistently struggle with odd words, it might be a sign of dyslexia.

2. Do they struggle to “sound out”?

Kids encounter new words daily, and use an understanding of letter sounds and previously known words to “sound out” unfamiliar ones. Dyslexia makes it hard for kids to connect sounds to their individual letters or arrangements of letters (such as “ph” as “f”). If your kid regularly has trouble sounding out new words, it might be time to get them tested for dyslexia.

3. Do words appear jumbled, squished, or spread apart?

Dyslexia can impact people in different ways. Some kids see letters out of order or moving around on a page. Some might see letters all squished together, while others might see lots of space between them. Mixing up similar letters with one another, like “b” and “d” or “e” and “c” is also common. Regardless of your child’s symptoms, diagnostic testing can pinpoint their specific areas of struggle to determine effective interventions.

If you believe that your kid’s reading struggles are caused by dyslexia, schedule a consultation with Variations’ diagnosticians to learn about our psychological testing services

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4. Have vision problems been ruled out?

Because kids with dyslexia have trouble “seeing” words as they are, it’s common to think that they have problems with eyesight. However, a person can have 20/20 vision and still have dyslexia. While the disability doesn’t impair one’s ability to see, it does impair their ability to decipher letters and interpret words correctly. If your child still has reading problems after vision testing or corrective lenses, testing for dyslexia may be the next best step.

5. Do they comprehend better when listening, instead of reading?

Because kids with dyslexia have to focus so heavily on processing each word, little attention is left for them to comprehend the meaning of what they’ve read. It’s often much easier for kids with dyslexia to understand stories that are read aloud to them, as listening is not as mentally taxing as reading. When students receive a dyslexia diagnosis, they often qualify for helpful accommodations like electronic readers or audiobooks to increase their comprehension.

6. Is memorization a recurring challenge?

Memorization can be a struggle for kids with dyslexia. In preschool, this can present as having trouble memorizing letters of the alphabet. Throughout teen and adult years, this can manifest as difficulties memorizing important dates, names, phone numbers, or lists like state capitals or periodic elements.

7. Do they run out the clock during tests?

Because kids with dyslexia take longer to read and process every word, they often need additional time to complete their work. If a kid is undiagnosed, they will not receive the extra time they need to complete assignments or in-class tests. Additional time for tests, similar to e-readers, is another accommodation that a student may qualify for through a 504 or an IEP

8. Does your kid avoid reading?

We all want our kids to love reading, as it expands their way of thinking and exposes them to new ideas and unique worlds. Dyslexia, however, can make reading feel daunting and intimidating. As a result, kids with dyslexia often try to get out of reading assignments and avoid reading aloud at all costs. In some cases, younger kids who are just learning to read will opt to look at pictures and ignore the written words altogether. Sometimes, their anxiety over reading can even result in physical symptoms like severe headaches or nausea. If your child seems strongly averse to reading, diagnostic testing can pinpoint the cause.

9. Do they shine in other areas?

Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, Octavio Spencer, and Salma Hayek are all examples of incredible thinkers, artists, and professionals with dyslexia. Each of them achieved tremendous success pursuing their dreams and passions. Some parents think that because their child is talented and high-achieving in certain areas, they couldn’t possibly have a learning disability. However, kids with dyslexia are often imaginative, innovative, and highly intelligent thinkers with effective reasoning skills and abstract problem-solving approaches. Even if your kid is thriving in areas outside of reading, accommodations for dyslexia can support their overall growth, academic performance, and career outlook.

10. Does your school not recognize your kid’s challenges?

School districts can administer tests that evaluate for broad reading issues, but these tests often fail to evaluate for specific symptoms of dyslexia such as phonological processing, orthographic coding, and auditory short-term memory. Consequently, kids with dyslexia can fly under the radar, even after being tested by their school.

Our Diagnosticians at Variations Psychology comprehensively assess for the specific symptoms of dysphonetic dyslexia, surface dyslexia, mixed dyslexia, and reading comprehension deficits. By identifying each student’s specific areas of struggle, our diagnosticians can guide families to the best path for their child’s success.

So you know you need help, but aren’t sure how
to find the right help?  

If a loved one has a learning difference or other condition that impacts their mental health and education, you may feel lost in determining the best ways to support them. 

Our Diagnosticians can provide psychological testing to remove the
guess-work and guide your family on the best path toward mental health, emotional wellness, and academic success.

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More about Variations Psychology

Variations Psychology is a group practice specializing in diagnostic testing to identify psychological conditions.

Our comprehensive evaluations test for conditions that impact mental health and development such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, learning disorders, and developmental delays. 

In addition to diagnostic services, we offer Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) of K-12 students to assess needs for accommodations in school and determine their appropriate placements. IEEs provide an objective second opinion on existing IEP and 504 Plans.

For K-12 and post-secondary students, we offer evaluations to assess needs for accommodations on standardized tests, college entrance exams (e.g. - SAT, ACT, AP Exams), and graduate and professional licensing exams (e.g. - MCAT, LSAT, GRE, CBEST, NCLEX, GMAT, CA Cosmetology Exam, CA Contractors State Licensing Exam, CA Bar Exam).

Schedule your consultation below to learn how our diagnostic services can support you and your family. 

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Variations Psychology is located in Newport Beach, CA and provides psychological testing to residents throughout Orange County and its surrounding areas including Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Irvine, Shady Canyon, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Coto de Caza, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Yorba Linda, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Pelican Hill, Crystal Cove, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Lake Forest, Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach, Seal Beach, and more.

References:

Horne, J. (2014). Famous Starts with Dyslexia. IMDB. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/list/ls071872465/ 

Marshall, A. (n.d.). What Dyslexics See. Dyslexia.com. Retrieved from https://www.dyslexia.com/question/what-dyslexics-see/ 

Morin, A. (n.d.). Classroom Accommodations for Dyslexia. Understood.org. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/partnering-with-childs-school/instructional-strategies/at-a-glance-classroom-accommodations-for-dyslexia 

Shaywitz, S. (n.d.) Signs of Dyslexia. Yale University. Retrieved from http://dyslexia.yale.edu/dyslexia/signs-of-dyslexia/ 

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Shinn. M.M. (2022). Specific Learning Disabilities and Special Education: 6 Facts for Parents. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/specific-learning-disabilities-special-education-6-facts-for-parents 

Shinn. M.M. (2020). Understanding Education Plans: A Parent’s Guide to 504s and IEPs. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/understanding-education-plans-a-parents-guide-to-504s-and-ieps 

Shinn. M.M. (2022). Understanding Supports, Services, Accommodations, Modifications & Placements. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/understanding-supports-services-accommodations-modifications-placements 

How to Cite This Blog Article:

Shinn. M.M. (2026). Does Your Kid Have Dyslexia? 10 Signs to Look Out For. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from (Admin Add URL)