What are the first signs of dyslexia in kindergarten?

In kindergarten (3-5 years), early signs include a language delay with late speech and limited vocabulary, difficulty with rhymes and sound games, problems memorizing alphabet letters, persistent sound confusions with distorted words, and a family history of dyslexia.

At what age can dyslexia be diagnosed in a child?

Before primary school, in kindergarten, these signs do not allow a definitive dyslexia diagnosis. They rather indicate an increased risk that deserves close monitoring. The diagnosis becomes more accurate during formal reading learning.

How to differentiate dyslexia from a simple reading delay?

Dyslexia is distinguished from a reading delay by its persistence despite adequate support, the specificity of the difficulties (reversals, letter confusions), and often the presence of multiple associated symptoms. A simple delay is generally caught up with time and help.

Does dyslexia persist into adulthood?

Yes, dyslexia persists into adulthood. Dyslexic adults may have persistent reading difficulties, spelling problems, concentration difficulties during reading, and sometimes compensatory strategies developed over the years.

Do family histories influence the risk of dyslexia?

Yes, family histories are an important risk factor. If a parent or sibling is dyslexic, it significantly increases the chances that a child will also develop this learning disorder.

What should I do if I recognize signs of dyslexia in my child?

If you recognize these signs, it's important to consult a healthcare professional or a specialist in learning disorders. Early diagnosis allows for the implementation of appropriate support and strategies to facilitate your child's learning.

What are the first signs of dyslexia in kindergarten?

In kindergarten (3-5 years), early signs include a language delay with late speech and limited vocabulary, difficulty with rhymes and sound games, problems memorizing alphabet letters, persistent sound confusions with distorted words, and a family history of dyslexia.

At what age can dyslexia be diagnosed in a child?

Before primary school, in kindergarten, these signs do not allow a definitive dyslexia diagnosis. They rather indicate an increased risk that deserves close monitoring. The diagnosis becomes more accurate during formal reading learning.

How to differentiate dyslexia from a simple reading delay?

Dyslexia is distinguished from a reading delay by its persistence despite adequate support, the specificity of the difficulties (reversals, letter confusions), and often the presence of multiple associated symptoms. A simple delay is generally caught up with time and help.

Does dyslexia persist into adulthood?

Yes, dyslexia persists into adulthood. Dyslexic adults may have persistent reading difficulties, spelling problems, concentration difficulties during reading, and sometimes compensatory strategies developed over the years.

Do family histories influence the risk of dyslexia?

Yes, family histories are an important risk factor. If a parent or sibling is dyslexic, it significantly increases the chances that a child will also develop this learning disorder.

What should I do if I recognize signs of dyslexia in my child?

If you recognize these signs, it's important to consult a healthcare professional or a specialist in learning disorders. Early diagnosis allows for the implementation of appropriate support and strategies to facilitate your child's learning.

Dyslexia Symptoms: How to Recognize This Disorder in Children and Adults

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Symptoms of Dyslexia: How to Recognize this Disorder in Children and Adults | DYNSEO

🔍 Understanding Dys

Symptoms of Dyslexia: How to Recognize this Disorder in Children and Adults

📅 December 2025 ⏱️ 12 min read

How can I know if my child has dyslexia? Dyslexia is a disorder that can go unnoticed for years. Knowing the signs at each age allows for quick response and tailored support.

This guide details the symptoms of dyslexia from kindergarten to adulthood, and helps you distinguish it from a simple reading delay.

Early signs in kindergarten (3-5 years)

Even before learning to read, certain signs can alert you to a risk of dyslexia:

🧒

Kindergarten (3-5 years)

Early warning signs to watch for

📢

Language delay: late speech, limited vocabulary for age

🎵

Difficulty with rhymes: does not understand sound games (nursery rhymes, rhymes)

🔤

Letter memorization: struggling to retain alphabet letters

🗣️

Pronunciation: persistent sound confusions, distorted words

👨‍👩‍👧

Family history: dyslexic parent or sibling (risk factor)

💡 At this age, these signs do not allow diagnosing dyslexia. They indicate an increased risk that requires special attention when entering primary school.

Signs in primary school (6-11 years)

It is generally in primary school that dyslexia is clearly manifested, during the learning of reading:

📚

CP - CE1 (6-7 years)

First signs during learning

📖

Laborious reading: slow decoding, syllable by syllable

🔀

Letter confusions: b/d, p/q, m/n, u/n very common

↔️

Reversals: "on" read as "no", "par" read as "pra"

🔊

Letter-sound association: difficulty associating graphemes and phonemes

📝

CE2 - CM2 (8-11 years)

Persistence of difficulties despite efforts

⏱️

Still slow reading: no progress despite training

✏️

Chaotic spelling: unusual errors, even on common words

📝

Difficult copy: slow, with errors and skipped lines

❓

Altered comprehension: too much energy on decoding, little on meaning

😰

Avoidance: refuses to read aloud, avoids written homework

💔

Loss of confidence: discouragement, feeling of being "stupid"

📖 Your child shows these signs?

Take a free first screening in 10 minutes

🎯 Take the free test →

Signs in adolescence (12-17 years)

In adolescence, difficulties can be masked by compensation strategies, but some signs persist:

🎒

Middle School - High School (12-17 years)

Persistent difficulties despite compensations

📚

Slow reading: difficulties with long texts, quick fatigue

✍️

Laborious written expression: ideas present but poorly formulated

🌍

Foreign languages: particularly marked difficulties

⏰

Time management: work longer than peers

📋

Organization: difficulty taking notes, organizing oneself

🎭

Avoidance strategies: class clown, displayed disinterest to mask difficulties

◆ ◆ ◆

Signs in adults

Many dyslexic adults are unaware of their disorder, having compensated for it all their lives:

👨‍💼

Adult (18+ years)

Signs often compensated but present

📖

Avoided reading: prefers podcasts, videos, audiobooks

✉️

Problematic writing: anxiety over emails, professional reports

📱

Persistent confusions: phone numbers, codes, dates

🔄

Re-reading necessary: need to read several times to understand

⏱️

Perceived slowness: written tasks take longer

🧠

Cognitive fatigue: exhaustion after reading/writing tasks

Dyslexia vs simple reading delay

How to distinguish between dyslexia and a reading delay? Here are the distinctive criteria:

Criteria	Dyslexia	Simple delay
Persistence	Persistent difficulties despite help	Improvement with adequate support
Gap with oral	Good oral level, very weak writing	Similar oral/writing difficulties
Typical errors	Confusions b/d, frequent reversals	Varied, less systematic errors
Effort made	Significant effort, low results	Results proportional to effort
Background	Often familial (genetic)	No familial pattern
Cause	Neurological (permanent)	Environmental (temporary)

⚠️ Only a professional can decide

This table gives indications, but only a complete speech therapy assessment can distinguish dyslexia from a reading delay and identify the exact causes of the difficulties.

What to do if you recognize these signs?

1. Do not wait

The sooner dyslexia is detected, the better it can be supported. Do not wait for the difficulties to settle in and affect self-confidence.

2. Get a first screening

Our free online test provides an initial indication in 10 minutes. It's a good starting point before consulting.

3. Consult a speech therapist

If the screening or your observations suggest difficulties, make an appointment for a speech therapy assessment (on doctor's prescription, reimbursed).

4. Inform the school

Talk to the teacher and the school psychologist. Accommodations can be made even before the diagnosis (PAP, then PPS if diagnosis confirmed).

5. Reassure and value

Remind your child (or yourself) that dyslexia is not related to intelligence. Many brilliant people are dyslexic: Albert Einstein, Steven Spielberg, Richard Branson...