This document discusses the characteristics of dyslexia at different stages of development from young childhood through adulthood. In young children, dyslexia may be shown through trouble with nursery rhymes, speech delays, and following directions. During childhood, negative emotions towards school, lack of motivation, and frustration with reading may appear. In middle/high school, dyslexia can cause frustration, dislike of school, sadness, and depression if not supported. Adults with dyslexia may have low self-esteem, shame, memory and organization issues, but can live fulfilling lives with support. Evaluation of dyslexia looks at cognitive, language, reading, and comprehension skills.

1. Dyslexia
Jeannie Wade
Spring 2022
Source: https://dyslexiaida.org/testing-and-evaluation/

2. Dyslexia- Young Children
Young children with dyslexia may display the following characteristics:
1. Trouble memorizing nursery rhymes
2. Slow speech development
3. Trouble following multi-step directions
4. Maybe appear like he or she is “ignoring” or not paying attention when it
would a natural occurrence
5. Low interest level is actual text in stories. May enjoy stories that are read to
him or her but not much interest in the words on the page.
6. Mistakes with specific sound combinations when speaking

3. Dyslexia- Childhood
Dyslexia during childhood…
1. Children may be exhibiting negative emotions towards school and the
learning process.
2. May lack eagerness to become engaged in the learning process by lacking in
asking questions and in motivation.
3. May appear to be agitated out of frustration
4. Trouble moving from the “emergent reader” to the “active reader”
5. Trouble with phonological awareness, retaining and memorizing specific
sound patterns despite efforts by adults
6. Trouble remembering sight words
7. Trouble reading words together and moving from reading words in isolation

4. Dyslexia- Middle School/High School
Dyslexia in middle school students…
● Students in middle school with dyslexia (if not supported) may appear to be
very frustrated, dislike school, and may even appear sad or depressed.
● It is difficult for students in the middle school years that may be struggling with
dyslexia as the content in middle school in-depth.
● Dyslexia is challenging for students in middle school, especially if a student is
not receiving support for, that student can really have challenges in school
overall, because dyslexia does not just affect reading skills but the overall
school day
● Slow reader or word-for-word reader
● Lack of comprehension

5. Dyslexia- Adult Years
Dyslexia in the adult years…
1. Adults with dyslexia often have a wide range of nonspecific mental health,
emotional, and work difficulties.
2. They may have low self-esteem, experience shame, humiliation, or lack
confidence in their ability to perform at work or school.
3. Adults can have overall issues with organization, memory, and overall life
skills. However, with support early, such adults can live very fulfilled, enriched
lives, and reach any goal they aspire to with hard work and self-discipline.
4. Adults struggling with dyslexia that have not developed strategies to cope
with dyslexia can develop anxiety, depression, feel alone, and feel inadequate
at his or her job and personal life

6. Evaluation of Dyslexia
Should include…
● A check-in on the overall history of the child, this would include an exploration on the
language developmental history of the child
● Identification
● Screening
● Diagnosis
● Testing
The evaluator/team will look at several aspects of the child, including cognitive functioning, language skills, ability to
recognize words in text, ability to sound words out, ability to recall sight words from memory, decoding skills, how quickly a
student can read what he or she is reading, comprehension skills, use, awareness, and understanding of vocabulary
****THe earliest that an evaluation can take place, the better so that the student gets the support he or she needs, when he or she
needs it!