What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning difference. It affects how the brain works with words and sounds. It is not linked to how clever a child is. Many children with dyslexia are bright, creative and great at talking, but find reading, writing and spelling much harder than expected.

Dyslexia often runs in families, and it lasts for life. The good news is that with the right help, children with dyslexia can learn well and feel confident.

Why signs change as children grow

Dyslexia does not look the same at every age. A four-year-old cannot show reading problems because they are not reading yet. Instead, you might notice things like trouble with rhymes or learning letter names. As your child moves through school, the signs shift towards reading, spelling and getting ideas down on paper.

One sign on its own does not mean your child has dyslexia. What matters is a group of signs that keep showing up over time.

Signs of dyslexia by age

The table below gives a quick guide to what you might notice at each stage.

Remember, every child is different. Your child may show signs from more than one row, or only a few signs in total.

Signs at 3 to 5 years (preschool and Reception)

Before school, signs are usually about sounds and language. You might notice your child:

• Finds it hard to learn nursery rhymes or spot words that rhyme
• Struggles to learn the names and sounds of letters
• Mixes up words, such as saying "hecilopter" instead of "helicopter"
• Has trouble remembering a few things in order, like colours or days of the week

These signs do not mean your child has dyslexia. They are simply things to keep an eye on as your child starts school.

Signs at 5 to 7 years (Key Stage 1)

This is when children begin learning to read with phonics. Signs at this age can include:

• Finding it very hard to blend sounds together to read a word
• Forgetting common words they have seen many times
• Reading very slowly, or guessing words instead of sounding them out
• Mixing up letters such as b and d for longer than other children
• Getting tired or upset during reading time

For a closer look at this stage, read our guide on the early signs of dyslexia in primary school children.

Signs at 7 to 11 years (Key Stage 2)

By now, most children are reading more smoothly. A child with dyslexia may:

• Still read slowly and make lots of mistakes, even after extra help
• Spell the same word in several different ways
• Have great spoken ideas but write very little
• Find it hard to follow instructions with more than one step
• Mix up the order of numbers, letters or times tables
• Say they "hate reading" or try to get out of it

This is often the age when parents feel most sure that something is not right. It is also a very good time for an assessment, because there has been enough time for teaching to work.

Signs at 11 to 16 years (secondary school)

Older children have often found clever ways to hide their difficulties. But the amount of reading and writing at secondary school can make the struggle show. Signs can include:

• Taking much longer than friends to finish homework
• Finding it hard to take notes or copy from the board
• Poor spelling and messy or short written work
• Trouble planning, organising, and keeping track of things
• Low confidence, stress or saying they are "stupid"

Dyslexia is not only about reading. It also affects how a child feels about themselves as a learner. Spotting it early can protect their confidence.

Signs that are easy to miss

Some signs do not look like reading problems at all. Watch out for:

• A big gap between how well your child talks and how well they write
• Tiredness after school that seems bigger than expected
• Avoiding tasks, such as "losing" reading books or being silly at homework time
• Worry or tummy aches before tests or reading aloud

When should I ask for a dyslexia assessment?

It may be time to think about an assessment if:

1. Your child has had good teaching and extra help, but is still struggling
2. You have noticed several signs from the table above, over months rather than weeks
3. Your child is falling behind classmates in reading or spelling
4. Your child's confidence or happiness at school is starting to drop
5. Someone else in the family has dyslexia

A good first step is to talk to your child's teacher or the school's SENCo (the person in charge of special educational needs). Ask what they have noticed and what help is already in place.

If you're interested in a private dyslexia assessment with your own child. ACE-SEN's team is here to help, in person or over Zoom. Book your free virtual consultation now.

What happens in a dyslexia assessment?

A dyslexia assessment looks closely at how your child learns. At ACE SEN, assessments are carried out by our founder, Nicola Durrant, a Level 7 dyslexia assessor with over 25 years of experience. We assess children aged 7 to 11, which is when a diagnosis can be made most clearly.

The process has three simple steps:

Assessments are available online and in person across the UK. The written report gives you and your child's school a shared plan to work from.

What if my child is too young for an assessment?

If your child is under 7, you do not have to wait and worry. You can:

• Keep a simple diary of the signs you notice
• Share your worries with your child's teacher
• Read together little and often, keeping it fun
• Play rhyming and sound games

Your child does not need a diagnosis to get help. Our dyslexia tuition uses gentle, multi-sensory one-to-one sessions to build reading, spelling and confidence, whether or not your child has had an assessment.

The bottom line

If reading, writing or spelling is a daily battle for your child, and extra help has not made much difference, it is worth looking into. An assessment does not put a label on your child. It gives you answers and a clear plan to help them learn in a way that works for them.

Not sure where to start? Book a free 30-minute call with ACE SEN to talk through your child's needs and find out whether a dyslexia assessment is the right next step.

FAQ: 

What is commonly mistaken for dyslexia?
Eyesight or hearing problems, ADHD, a speech and language delay, or a child being called "lazy" or "not trying" are often mistaken for dyslexia.

At what age does dyslexia start?
Children are born with dyslexia, as it comes from how the brain works with sounds and words, so it is there from birth.

What are 5 signs of dyslexia?
Five signs are trouble with rhymes and letter sounds, slow reading full of mistakes, spelling the same word in different ways, writing much less than they can say, and finding instructions with several steps hard to follow.

Is dyslexia inherited from the mother or father?
It can come from either parent, and a child is more likely to have it if a parent, brother or sister has it.

At what age does dyslexia show up?
Early signs can show from age 3 to 5, but most children are spotted between 5 and 8, once they start learning to read.

Is dyslexia linked to high IQ?
No, dyslexia has nothing to do with IQ, and children at every ability level can have it.