Worried about your child’s reading and writing skills? Feel like your child isn’t developing at the same pace as their peers? These are common reasons parents seek dyslexia testing. In this guide, we’ll explain how to determine if your child is dyslexic and how to get support after a dyslexia diagnosis.
What Is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects how a person interprets and retains written information. A person with dyslexia may struggle to distinguish between similar letters, which often impacts reading, writing and memorization. Dyslexia symptoms may present in a child’s developmental years, but many children do not get diagnosed until they are in school. Early diagnosis allows for early treatment, so it’s important to have your child test if you’ve noticed signs of dyslexia.
Symptoms of Dyslexia
Parents may notice signs of dyslexia before their child is of school age. In the early years, dyslexia symptoms may include:
- Delayed speech development
- Learning words at a slow rate
- Trouble remembering nursery rhymes or songs
- Reversing sounds in a word
- Trouble distinguishing between similar sounding words
- Difficulty remembering the alphabet, numbers and colors
Once a child reaches school age, you may notice these dyslexia symptoms:
- Problems spelling words
- Reading significantly below grade level
- Trouble sounding out unfamiliar words
- Taking a long time to complete reading and writing assignments
- Trouble remembering items in a sequence
- Emotional outbursts in school or not wanting to go to school
These symptoms are not guaranteed to be the result of dyslexia, and they are not the only symptoms a child may experience. Dyslexia symptoms overlap with other conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety. This is why it is important to get a professional diagnosis to pinpoint the underlying issues.
Dyslexia Testing and Diagnosis
Dyslexia testing is the best way to determine if your child has dyslexia. A specialist will evaluate your child’s symptoms, behaviors, answers to questions and other factors to pinpoint which areas he or she may be struggling in. At CNLD Testing & Therapy, we identify strengths, not just weaknesses. This sets tone for effective treatment, where the strengths can be used to overcome the weaknesses.
How Common Is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is the most prevalent learning disability in America, affecting 70-80% of people with poor reading skills. Approximately 15-20% of children have a language-based learning disability, so dyslexia is incredibly common in the U.S. If you or your child receive a dyslexia diagnosis, you are not alone. There are many resources available to conquer dyslexia symptoms and receive positive support through your journey.
What to Do after a Dyslexia Diagnosis (Dyslexia Treatment)
Dyslexia treatment may involve counseling, educational support, and lifestyle changes at home. Every journey is unique. CNLD Testing & Therapy offers intervention planning and educational advocacy after dyslexia testing. This means we’ll hold your hand and guide you through the next steps in the process.
If you’d like to start your journey, please contact (734) 994-9466 to schedule a consultation. We are happy to review insurance coverage over the phone or answer any questions you may have.
