Understanding Dyslexia: Signs to Watch for by Age
- National Center on Improving Literacy
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 2
Dyslexia can manifest differently depending on a child’s age and stage of reading development. Early identification is critical to provide effective support and intervention.
Preschool Years
Age: 3-5
In the preschool years, many children begin developing an awareness of sounds in language and the concept of print. Typical readers at this age often:
Enjoy playing with sounds and rhymes
Recognize some letters, especially those in their name
Begin to understand that printed words carry meaning
Children at risk for dyslexia, on the other hand, may:
Struggle to learn common nursery rhymes
Not recognize rhyming patterns
Have trouble remembering letter names
Continue to use “baby talk” well past toddlerhood
These early difficulties can point to challenges with phonological awareness—an early warning sign of reading difficulties
Kindergarten to 1st Grade
Age: 5-7
As children move into kindergarten and first grade, they typically learn how letters map to sounds and begin to read simple words. Most readers at this stage:
Understand letter-sound relationships
Can decode regular one-syllable words like cat, map, or pan
Begin to comprehend what they read
Children at risk for dyslexia may show a different pattern. They might:
Not connect letters with sounds
Make reading mistakes that don't match the letters on the page
Struggle to break words into sounds
Avoid reading or express frustration
These challenges often suggest difficulties in phonics and decoding—core components of early reading.
2nd Grade and Beyond
Age: 7+
By second grade and up, most children begin to read more fluently and focus on understanding longer texts. Typically developing readers:
Use letter-sound knowledge to read unfamiliar words
Decode longer, multisyllabic words using word parts
Read with enough fluency to focus on comprehension
Children at risk for dyslexia may:
Continue to struggle with decoding
Read slowly or guess at words
Confuse similar-sounding words
Avoid reading aloud
Show persistent difficulties with spelling and handwriting
At this stage, reading difficulties become more pronounced and can affect a child’s confidence and academic performance if not addressed.
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Suggested Citation
National Center on Improving Literacy. (2020). Understanding Dyslexia: Signs to Watch for by Age. https://www.improvingliteracy.org/resource/understanding-dyslexia-signs-to-watch-for-by-age
