Five crucial signs that could reveal dyslexia in your child
Here’s why nursery rhyme difficulties may signal dyslexia
Eight in ten dyslexic students are leaving school undiagnosed, potentially impacting their future academic and career prospects.
As Dyslexia Awareness Week (7-13th October) approaches, education experts are highlighting the importance of recognising dyslexia early. With 43% of schools in the UK struggling to understand dyslexic challenges, it's more important than ever to identify signs early and provide appropriate support.
Leading tutoring provider Explore Learning is stepping up to help parents identify early signs of dyslexia while offering expert advice on supporting dyslexic children. They reassure parents that, with the right guidance, children with dyslexia can overcome challenges and thrive academically.
The British Dyslexia Association estimates that about 10% of the UK population has dyslexia. Despite this, a report from Teaching Times highlights a significant gap in support, with 80% of dyslexic students going undiagnosed. This underscores the urgent need for improved awareness and resources in schools across the UK.
Parents and educators are advised to watch for these potential early signs of dyslexia:
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Difficulty learning nursery rhymes
Children may struggle to remember or recite simple rhymes like Humpty Dumpty. This is because children with dyslexia may find it challenging to recognise rhyming words or break words into individual sounds.
2. Slow speech development
Some dyslexic children might start speaking later than their peers or have trouble expressing themselves clearly. Children with dyslexia often struggle with phonological processing, which can affect their ability to produce speech sounds accurately.
3. Difficulty learning to recite the alphabet
Remembering the order of letters or associating letters with their sounds may be challenging for dyslexic children. This is related to difficulties in sequential memory and phoneme-grapheme correspondence, which are common in dyslexia.
4. Struggles to carry out more than one instruction
Forgetting parts of instructions or mixing up the order of steps can be a sign of dyslexia in children. This can be due to challenges with working memory and sequencing, which are often associated with dyslexia.
5. Confusion with directional words
Words like 'left' and 'right' or 'up' and 'down' may be consistently mixed up in those with dyslexia. This spatial and directional confusion is a common feature of dyslexia, often persisting into adulthood.
6. Difficulty with short-term memory
Children may struggle to remember information they've just been told, such as a friend's name or simple instructions. This is because dyslexia can affect working memory, which is responsible for temporarily holding and processing information.
"It's crucial to remember that dyslexia is not a reflection of intelligence," says Charlotte Gater, Head of Education from Explore Learning. "With the right support, children with dyslexia can achieve remarkable success. The key is to recognise each child’s unique learning needs, and ensure their educational strategies are adapted accordingly.”
For those supporting children with dyslexia, Gater suggests these strategies:
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Use multiple senses for learning
Combine visual, hearing, and hands-on activities. For younger children, use playdough to form letters or sing alphabet songs. Older students can benefit from colour-coding different parts of speech or creating mind maps for story structures.
2. Break tasks into smaller steps
Large assignments can be overwhelming for dyslexic learners. Visual checklists are helpful for younger children, while digital task management apps can be useful for older children and teenagers. Celebrate when steps are completed for all age groups, to maintain motivation.
3. Allow extra time for reading and writing
Reduce time pressure to help children process information more effectively. For younger pupils, extend storytime or use sand timers for writing tasks to make time visual. For older children, allow more time for homework and reading assignments. Create a quiet, distraction-free space at home for study and encourage regular breaks to maintain focus.
4. Use helpful technology
Leverage age-appropriate assistive tools to support learning. For younger pupils, interactive phonics apps like Nessy and digital storybooks can make reading more engaging. Older children can benefit from text-to-speech software for reading assignments and spell-checkers for writing tasks. Secondary school students might find voice recognition tools helpful for note-taking, while grammar-checking software is useful for refining written work.
5. Focus on strengths
Identify and nurture areas where your child excels to build confidence and motivation. For primary school pupils, this might involve praising their creativity in storytelling or their skills in hands-on activities. Older children could be encouraged to join clubs or take on projects related to their strengths, whether in science, art, or sports. For secondary school students, guide them towards optional subjects and extracurricular activities that align with their talents and interests.
Explore Learning offers personalised tuition designed to boost confidence and academic skills for all children, including those with dyslexia. Parents and children interested in learning more can visit the Explore Learning blog, or https://www.explorelearning.co.uk/maths-english-tuition/
