Dyslexia is a learning difference tied to language that can make reading, spelling, writing, and sometimes speaking more difficult. It isn’t connected to intelligence or how hard someone tries—it has to do with how the brain processes written and spoken language. Spotting the signs early can have a big impact on a child’s learning and confidence. Noticing what to look for is the first move toward finding the right help.

1. What Does Dyslexia Look Like?
Dyslexia is a learning difference tied to language that can make reading, spelling, writing,
and sometimes speaking more difficult. It isn’t connected to intelligence or how hard
someone tries—it has to do with how the brain processes written and spoken language.
Spotting the signs early can have a big impact on a child’s learning and confidence. Noticing
what to look for is the first move toward finding the right help.
Early Signs of Dyslexia in Young Children
In the preschool and early grade school years, this kind of learning challenge can be hard to
spot. A child may come across as smart, interested, and eager to learn, yet still struggle with
early reading and language skills. Some early clues might be:
●​ Difficulty picking up the alphabet or remembering letter sounds
●​ Struggling with rhyming or breaking words into syllables
●​ Speaking later than expected or mixing up simple, familiar words
●​ Forgetting the names of everyday objects
●​ Having trouble following directions that involve more than one step
Children who deal with these kinds of challenges may also start to show signs of frustration
when asked to read or write. They might avoid those tasks whenever possible. This behavior
isn’t due to laziness or acting out—it comes from the way their brain processes language.
School-Age Signs: When Learning Challenges
Become Clearer
As schoolwork becomes more challenging, the signs of a reading disorder often become
clearer. A student might have trouble sounding out new words, reading smoothly and
correctly, or spelling even simple words. These struggles can also affect how well they
understand what they read—especially longer passages—and how quickly they can finish
reading and writing assignments.
By the time students reach second or third grade, the focus usually shifts from learning to
read to using reading to learn new material. For those with a reading disorder, this shift can
reveal more serious difficulties that affect several areas of learning.
How Dyslexia Looks Different Across Age Groups
The symptoms and struggles associated with reading challenges change as children grow.

2. What starts as difficulty with rhyming or letter recognition in early childhood may become
more pronounced challenges with reading fluency or comprehension in later years. The way a
reading disorder presents itself in high school will be different from how it appears in
elementary school.
Students with this learning difficulty often demonstrate creativity, strong reasoning skills, and
talents in non-language-based areas such as math, art, or science. When given the right
support and adjustments, they can do well in school and later in their work life. Finding the
right approach starts with a thorough and accurate evaluation.
How Educational Assessments Help
Accurate identification of reading challenges often begins with formal evaluations. The results
provide a detailed picture of a student's strengths and weaknesses and are crucial in
determining whether the learning challenge is present.
These comprehensive educational assessments are designed to measure a student's skills in
a variety of areas to create a complete learning profile. The tests help show whether the
struggle comes from a language impairment or something else, like ADHD. Knowing exactly
what’s going on is what makes it possible to figure out the next steps for support.
Components of an Evaluation
A comprehensive evaluation by a trained professional is a deep dive into your child's unique
cognitive and academic profile. While the specifics of the evaluation depend on the
speech-language pathologist conducting it and the child’s needs, it may include a look at
their:
●​ Phonological Processing: Noticing how well a child hears and works with the sounds
in words.
●​ Word Recognition and Fluency: Seeing how smoothly and accurately they can read
both individual words and full sentences.
●​ Reading Comprehension: Figuring out if they understand what they’ve read and can
explain it in their own way.
●​ Spelling & Written Expression: Analyzing a student's spelling patterns and writing
skills.
Your Partner in Understanding and Support
At Educational Inspiration, we recognize how complicated reading struggles can be and how
they affect learning at every stage. We are dedicated to equipping parents with the
information and resources they need to confidently support their child’s success in school
and in life. Our speech-language pathologist and reading specialist offers in-depth

3. educational assessments and personalized support plans tailored to your child's specific
needs. We believe every student deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Get in touch to set up a consultation.