Dyslexia is a learning disorder largely associated with reading difficulties. People with dyslexia typically struggle to read in a traditional manner, and while they are not necessarily unable to read at all, they often work significantly harder than peers to understand and process written text. It is important to note that dyslexia has nothing to do with IQ. Albert Einstein was dyslexic and had an IQ of 160.
It is estimated that over 40 million Americans have dyslexia, yet only about 2 million are aware of it. Many people go years, or an entire lifetime, without knowing why reading and spelling feel so much harder for them than for others. Recognizing the signs is the first step toward getting clarity.
If you are unsure whether you or your child may have dyslexia, the most reliable path is to schedule a formal dyslexia evaluation with a trained professional. In the meantime, being aware of common traits and patterns can help you understand what to look for.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Dyslexia
Vision, Spelling, and Reading
People with dyslexia may experience headaches, dizziness, or stomach discomfort during sustained reading. They are often confused by verbal explanations, word sequences, numbers, and letters. Spelling tends to be inconsistent and phonetic rather than standard. Some individuals also have difficulty with depth perception or peripheral vision, which can affect how text appears on a page.
Motor Skills and Writing
Dyslexia frequently affects fine motor tasks as well. Common signs include confusing directional concepts such as over and under or left and right, difficulty with writing and copying tasks, and an unusual pencil grip. Handwriting may be difficult to read. Some individuals with dyslexia are also less coordinated and may struggle with team sports or activities that require precise motor timing.
Hearing and Speech
Speech and language patterns can also reflect dyslexia. Common signs include difficulty putting thoughts into words clearly, speaking in halting phrases or leaving sentences unfinished, stuttering during stressful situations, and mispronouncing longer or less familiar words. Some individuals also report hearing things that were not said and being easily distracted by certain sounds.
Memory and Cognition
Memory patterns in dyslexia are often uneven. Many people with dyslexia have strong long-term memory for faces, places, and experiences but struggle to retain sequences, facts, and structured information. They tend to think more in images and feelings than in words or sounds, which can be a genuine cognitive strength in creative and visual-spatial contexts.
Behavior
Behavioral signs of dyslexia can be easy to misread. Some children become class clowns or act out as a way of deflecting attention from reading difficulties. Others become very quiet and withdrawn. Symptoms and mistakes often increase noticeably under emotional stress, time pressure, or confusion. Some children with dyslexia also have higher rates of ear infections, sensitivities to certain foods or environmental factors, and bedwetting beyond the typical developmental age.
Signs of Dyslexia in Adults
Dyslexia does not disappear with age. Many adults with dyslexia were never diagnosed as children, especially those who developed compensatory strategies that allowed them to manage academically. Common signs in adults include reading slowly and with conscious effort, heavy reliance on spell-check, difficulty absorbing information from written text quickly, and a long history of feeling like they have to work harder than everyone else in reading-heavy environments.
Adults who recognize these patterns in themselves often describe getting a diagnosis as genuinely clarifying. In addition to the diagnostic value, an evaluation provides documentation that can be used to request accommodations at work or on professional licensing exams.
What to Do If You Recognize These Signs
Whether you are concerned about yourself or your child, the most important next step is to consult with a professional. Dyslexia testing, conducted as part of a neuropsychological or psychoeducational evaluation, can confirm or rule out the diagnosis and identify the specific areas of difficulty. From there, a clear plan can be developed, including tutoring approaches, accommodations, and strategies that work with how your brain processes information.
You can thrive in educational and professional settings with dyslexia. Getting an accurate evaluation is the most direct path to understanding what is happening and getting the right support in place. The Cognitive Assessment Group offers comprehensive dyslexia testing for children and adults in New York City and Chicago, and via telehealth. Contact us today.
Related: Dyslexia & Learning Disabilities Testing | Test Accommodations | Neuropsychological Testing for Memory & Cognition
Frequently Asked Questions About Dyslexia Symptoms
The most reliable way to identify dyslexia is through a formal neuropsychological or psychoeducational evaluation. Signs to watch for informally include a significant gap between how a person communicates verbally versus in writing, a history of academic struggle despite clear intelligence, inconsistent spelling of the same word, and a family history of reading difficulties.
The most common dyslexia symptoms include slow or labored reading, inconsistent spelling, difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words, trouble putting thoughts into written words, and a pattern where verbal ability is much stronger than written performance. In children, early signs include difficulty learning letter sounds, trouble with rhyming, and slow reading progress despite consistent instruction. In adults, symptoms often include reading slowly, avoiding writing tasks, and struggling in reading-heavy work environments.
In written work, dyslexia commonly appears as inconsistent spelling, phonetic substitutions for standard spellings, difficulty organizing thoughts on paper, and written output that does not reflect the person’s verbal ability or knowledge. These patterns are most visible when the person is working under time pressure or producing longer pieces of writing.
Beyond reading and writing challenges, children with dyslexia often show resistance and frustration around homework, avoidance of reading aloud, difficulty remembering sequences and instructions, and a tendency to perform far below potential on written tasks while showing clear strengths elsewhere. Some children act out or become class clowns to deflect attention from their reading struggles. Others become withdrawn.
Yes. Dyslexia is classified as a specific learning disability in reading under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students with a documented dyslexia diagnosis may be eligible for accommodations such as extended time, audiobooks, or a reader. Adults may also qualify for workplace or testing accommodations. A formal neuropsychological evaluation provides the documentation needed to access these supports.
