| Most dyslexics will exhibit about 10 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
- Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate but
unable to read, write, or spell at grade level
- Labeled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, "not trying
hard enough," or "behavior problem."
- Isn't "behind enough" or "bad enough"
to be helped in the school setting
- High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests
well orally, but not written
- Feels dumb; has poor self-esteem; hides or covers up weaknesses
with ingenious compensatory strategies; easily frustrated
and emotional about school reading or testing
- Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling,
sales, business, designing, building, or engineering
- Seems to "Zone out" or daydream often; gets
lost easily or loses track of time.
- Difficulty sustaining attention; seems "hyper"
or "daydreamer."
- Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations,
experimentation, observation, and visual aids.
Vision, Reading, and Spelling
- Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while
reading.
- 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.
- Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while
reading, writing, or copying.
- Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don't
reveal a problem.
- Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception
and peripheral vision.
- Reads and rereads with little comprehension.
- Spells phonetically and inconsistently.
Hearing and Speech
- Has extended hearing; hears things not said or apparent
to others; easily distracted by sounds.
- Difficulty putting thoughts into words; speaks in halting
phrases; leaves sentences incomplete; stutters under stress;
mispronounces long words, or transposes phrases, words,
and syllables when speaking
Writing and Motor Skills
- Trouble with writing or copying; pencil grip is unusual;
handwriting varies or is illegible.
- Clumsy, uncoordinated, poor at ball or team sports; difficulties
with fine and/or gross motor skills and tasks; prone to
motion-sickness.
- Can be ambidextrous, and often confuses left/right, over/under.
Math and Time Management
- Has difficulty telling time, managing time, learning sequenced
information or tasks, or being on time.
- Computing math shows dependence on finger counting and
other tricks; knows answers, but can't do it on paper.
- Can count, but has difficulty counting objects and dealing
with money.
- Can do arithmetic, but fails word problems; cannot grasp
algebra or higher math
Memory and Cognition
- Excellent long-term memory for experiences, locations,
and faces.
- Poor memory for sequences, facts and information that
has not been experienced.
- Thinks primarily with images and feeling, not sounds or
words (little internal dialogue).
Behavior, Health, Development and Personality
- Extremely disorderly or compulsively orderly.
- Can be class clown, trouble-maker, or too quiet.
- Had unusually early or late developmental stages (talking,
crawling, walking, tying shoes).
- Prone to ear infections; sensitive to foods, additives,
and chemical products.
- Can be an extra deep or light sleeper; bedwetting beyond
appropriate age.
- Unusually high or low tolerance for pain.
- Strong sense of justice; emotionally sensitive; strives
for perfection.
- Mistakes and symptoms increase dramatically with confusion,
time pressure, emotional stress, or poor health.
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