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Dyslexia - The 37 Common Characteristics |
Dyslexic characteristics can be variable, however most dyslexics will exhibit about 10 of the following traits and behaviours.
General
- Appears bright, highly intelligent and articulate but unable to read, write or spell at grade level.
- Labelled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, “not trying hard enough” or “behaviour 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, storytelling, 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 and/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.
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.
Maths and Time Mangement
- Has difficulty telling time, managing time, learning sequenced information or tasks or being on time.
- Computing maths shows dependence of 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 maths.
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.
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)
Behaviour, Health, Development and Personaility
- Extremely disorderly or compulsively orderly.
- Mistakes and symptoms increase dramatically with confusion, time pressure, emotional stress or poor health.
- 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; bed wetting beyond appropriate age.
- Unusually high or low tolerance for pain.
- Strong sense of justice; emotionally sensitive; strives for perfection.
The Davis Dyslexia Correction® program helps people with these characteristics every day. The disabling aspects of dyslexia are correctable and can be overcome.
Copyright 1992 by Ronald D Davis - used with permission - www.dyslexia.com
Copyright 1992 by Ronald D Davis - used with permission - www.dyslexia.com