I think my child could be dyslexic. What are the symptoms and how can I be sure?
That is really a main question—and as much as it’s easy to point to a long list of possible symptoms, it will depend on an assessment to be sure that dyslexia is behind them. They are only indicators, after all—and what we as Davis facilitators test is really the predominant learning style of a child or adult, if or how a visual or kinaesthetic learning style might affect their performance at school or the workforce.
If a child does show a non-verbal learning style and has obvious challenges, we can also determine if our approach will be the right one for them and if they are ready to change. Change happens when responsibility is taken for it. Ron Davis always points out that in order to be responsible for anything, we need to have the ability and willingness to control. If they show the willingness, we provide the ability.
The symptoms also depend on the age of the child.
Some of the many different indicators that your child may present at the preschool age are difficulties to:
– remember names, even their own name in writing, mixing up names (spaghetti/pasgetti)
– pronounce words correctly (my son couldn’t pronounce the R in “run” and similar words)
– put clothes or shoes on the correct way
– learn to count, or read a simple group of letters
– Move with confidence, often clumsy or accident prone, and showing difficulty with gross motor skills (catching, throwing, skipping, etc.), which would indicate more of a dyspraxic tendency
– follow instructions, especially long ones
– sit still, listen, pay attention, etc.