Should My Child Be Evaluated for Dyslexia?

Definition of Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by
poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction.
(Lyon, Shaywitz, & Shaywitz, 2003, p. 2)


Individuals with dyslexia may show difficulties in the following areas:

• Learning to speak
• Learning letters and their sounds
• Organizing written and spoken language
• Memorizing number facts
• Reading quickly enough to comprehend
• Persisting with and comprehending longer reading assignments
• Spelling
• Learning a foreign language
• Correctly doing math operations
  International Dyslexia Association
  

For a more detailed list of red flags, possibly indications of a language based learning disability, broken down by age see “Clues – Signs of Dyslexia” by Yale’s Center for Dyslexia and Creativity.