About Dyslexia

Lower school student working on letter formation

I simply wouldn’t be where I am today if I wasn’t dyslexic. Richard Branson

Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects the way the brain processes written and spoken language. It is not related to intelligence or the ability to learn; rather, it impacts the way individuals with dyslexia perceive and interpret words, letters, and symbols. People with dyslexia often face challenges with reading, writing, and spelling, which can affect their academic performance and daily life.

The difficulties experienced by individuals with dyslexia can vary widely. Some may struggle with decoding words, recognizing specific letters or sounds, and understanding the relationship between letters and their sounds. Others may have trouble with reading fluently, comprehending what they read, or spelling words correctly. These challenges can make it harder for individuals with dyslexia to express themselves through writing or to understand complex texts.

Signs of Dyslexia

Preschool signs of dyslexia

Mispronouncing words, like saying beddy tear instead of teddy bear
Struggling to name familiar objects and using general words like thing and stuff instead
Having a hard time learning nursery rhymes or song lyrics that rhyme
Having trouble remembering sequences, like singing the letters of the alphabet
Telling stories that are hard to follow or having trouble talking about an event in a logical order
Having difficulty remembering and following directions with multiple steps

K-2nd grade signs of dyslexia

Having trouble learning letter names and remembering the sounds they make
Often confusing letters that look similar (like b, d, p, and q) or sound similar (like f and v, b and p, or d and t)
Struggling to read familiar words (like cat), especially if there aren’t pictures
Substituting words when reading aloud, like saying house when the story says home
Having trouble separating the individual sounds in words and blending sounds to make a word
Having trouble remembering how words are spelled and applying spelling rules in writing

3rd-5th grade signs of dyslexia

Confusing or skipping small words like for and of when reading aloud
Having trouble sounding out new words
Having trouble quickly recognizing common words (also called sight words)
Struggling to explain what happened in a story or answer questions about key details
Frequently making the same kinds of mistakes, like reversing letters
Having poor spelling, like spelling the same word correctly and incorrectly in the same exercise
Avoiding reading whenever possible or getting frustrated or upset when reading

Tween, teen, and adult signs of dyslexia

Reading slowly or leaving out small words and parts of longer words when reading aloud
Struggling to remember common abbreviations, including ones on social media
Often searching for words or using substitutes like gate instead of fence
Often not “getting” the joke or having trouble understanding idioms and puns
Taking a very long time to complete reading assignments
Having an easier time answering questions about a page of text if it’s read aloud

Source: Understood.org - Signs of dyslexia at different ages

How Trident Can Help

Trident Academy's teachers are specially trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach, which is considered to be the gold standard for teaching students who are diagnosed with a language-based learning difference such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia. Students who attend Trident are often able to return to transition back to a more traditional educational environment.

Trident Academy is able to educate students who are diagnosed with one or more language-based learning differences. Learn more about the type of student that can be served by Trident.

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