Many people begin to wonder whether they or their child may have dyslexia when reading, spelling or writing seems significantly harder than expected.

Dyslexia can affect people in different ways, and the signs can vary between individuals. Some people recognise these patterns during school, while others begin to question it later in life.

The questions below are not a diagnostic test, but they may help you reflect on whether further advice or assessment could be helpful.

Possible Signs of Dyslexia

You may recognise some of the following patterns.

Reading

• reading more slowly than others
• needing to reread text several times
• losing place while reading
• difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words
• avoiding reading aloud

Spelling and Writing

• inconsistent spelling
• difficulty organising ideas on paper
• written work taking much longer than expected
• difficulty structuring longer pieces of writing

Memory and Organisation

• difficulty remembering sequences such as days of the week or times tables
• forgetting instructions or needing them repeated
• difficulty remembering information just read

Language

• difficulty finding the right word when speaking
• mixing up similar sounding words
• needing extra time to respond when asked questions

Dyslexia Also Includes Strengths

Many dyslexic people show strengths such as:

• creative thinking
• strong verbal reasoning
• problem solving ability
• big picture thinking
• visual or spatial strengths

These strengths can sometimes mask underlying literacy difficulties, meaning dyslexia is not always recognised immediately.