The International Dyslexia Association tells us that dyslexia has its roots in how the brain processes language,1 so you will see other symptoms outside of school. As our child grew up, we discovered that dyslexia can be in the background in these surprising ways:
1. Inconsistent learning with no apparent reason
Learning is not always linear and is a process over time, so mistakes are normal. But in a child with dyslexia, as Dyslexia the Gift Blog puts it, “its only consistency is inconsistency.”2 One day they may demonstrate understanding of how to do a task. The next day, it’s like they never learned it. If that’s not puzzling enough, the day after that they may know it for certain. This can make it seem like they just aren’t paying attention, and make it hard to assess what they know.
2. Cannot rhyme
According to the British Dyslexia Association, there are speech-related signs that point to dyslexia.3 When it is present with other signs, the inability to rhyme is perhaps the most clear pointer to dyslexia. You can see it long before a child is learning to read or write. (Our child was around age three.) Not being able to make a rhyme is connected to a difficulty breaking language down into sounds and associating sounds with letters.
3. Has trouble speaking
Children with dyslexia can struggle with retrieving the right words.4 They may have trouble recalling the name for an object and will use “stuff” or “thing” without naming the object or will substitute other words instead. They can confuse words that sound alike (like “fifty” and “fifteen”). Sometimes they put syllables out of order (“flutterby” for “butterfly”). Even though the children are bright and have a lot to say, they can be reluctant to participate in conversation because they can have difficulty processing what someone said, and find it hard to reply quickly.
4. Difficulty with sequences
Children with dyslexia often struggle to learn sequences like days of the week, skip counting, and spelling their name, even though they may have had a lot of practice. They struggle reciting the alphabet. They often have trouble doing directions with multiple steps, like “put the toys in the box and then put the box in the closet,” or they may have difficulty with routines.
5. Unusual fatigue for a young person
After you’ve made sure that the reason for the fatigue isn’t late-night video game sessions, this symptom warrants a closer look. This was one of the most surprising signs to me, watching my normally very active boy wanting to sleep during the day, and yawning repeatedly while reading, even a little. After a visit to his pediatrician to rule out anything physical, we concluded that the dyslexic brain works very hard. Students with dyslexia can seem to get overwhelmed very quickly. They may need extra breaks or need to do smaller tasks at one time to help manage the fatigue. Anxiety often disturbs sleep, so the children may feel sluggish during the day. If you notice these signs, as well as trouble reading or if anyone in your family has a history of finding reading and writing difficult, you may want to consider finding out whether your child has dyslexia. Though no one knows exact numbers, dyslexia seems to be common. According to the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, dyslexia is a learning difference that’s estimated to occur in 1 in 5 children.
Your pediatrician can sometimes refer you to someone who can find out if your child has dyslexia, but if the child is already in school, you can talk to the school’s psychologist. Other licensed professionals who can help you are: a speech-language psychologist, an educational psychologist, or a neuropsychologist. They are qualified to test your child and determine what could be the underlying cause of the symptoms you observe. These tests will go beyond a simple screening, which sometimes is not accurate.
Dyslexic children need specific instruction tailored for dyslexia when learning to read. This process is made easier when it is started early. Programs like Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, the Barton System, and others will also support them with language processing, memory, and executive function, three areas that affect their learning. During the test for dyslexia, the evaluator can recommend which one of the proven reading programs for dyslexia will likely work best for your child.
References
1. “Definition of Dyslexia,” International Dyslexia Association, July 16, 2018, https://dyslexiaida.org/definition-of-dyslexia/.
2. Hayley Butcher, “The Dyslexic Variation,” Dyslexia the Gift Blog, December 15, 2024, https://blog.dyslexia.com/the-dyslexic-variation/.
3. British Dyslexia Association, “Signs of Dyslexia (Early Years),” British Dyslexia Association, accessed June 29, 2025, https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/children/is-my-child-dyslexic/signs-of-dyslexia-early-years.
4. Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, “Signs of Dyslexia.” Yale Center for Dyselxia and Creativity, accessed June 29, 2025. https://dyslexia.yale.edu/dyslexia/signs-of-dyslexia/.
5. ibid
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Michelle Horn is a book editor who learned about dyslexia when her son was diagnosed with it. After he graduated high school, she began to write a book, Help Your Dyslexic Child Succeed (www.helpyourdyslexicchild.com),
to help other parents navigate dyslexia in today’s educational environment. She lives in Pennsylvania with her family.
Read the article here.