CHARACTERISTICS OF DYSLEXIA

Thirty-seven common characteristics of Dyslexia:
Here are the first sixteen. I'll post the remainder later.

Most dyslexics will exhibit about ten of the following traits and behaviors. These characteristics can vary from day-to-day or minute-to-minute. The most consistent thing about dyslexics is their inconsistency.General
1. Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level.
2. Labelled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, "not trying hard enough," or "behavior problem."
3. Isn't "behind enough" or "bad enough" to be helped in the school setting.
4. High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests well orally, but not written.
5. Feels dumb; has poor self-esteem; hides or covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies; easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing.
6. Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building, or engineering.
7. Seems to "Zone out" or daydream often; gets lost easily or loses track of time.
8. Difficulty sustaining attention; seems "hyper" or "daydreamer."
9. Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids.

Vision, Reading, and Spelling
10. Reads and rereads with little comprehension.
11. Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading.
12. Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations. Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words.
13. Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing, or copying.
14. Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don't reveal a problem.
15. Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception and peripheral vision.
16. Spells phonetically and inconsistently.

© 1992 by Ronald D. Davis