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Original poster

Is it too early to worry about dyslexia?

78 replies

Sanamarin · 02/12/2022 10:07

DD turned 5 in Oct and started Reception in Sept. She's been doing phonics since she was 3 and has a great phonic awareness. She loves writing, for instance the other day they learned at school 'we' so she came home and wrote: 'we hav a cat' which I thought was good. She's been writing her name for a long time.

If I ask her how do you spell pond...she'll go: p-o-n-d. And do on.

She is a fast learner usually, she learned all the sight words, about 25 so far (push, pull, put, the, and, I etc.)

HOWEVER, she finds reading very frustrating. She comes home with books that have simple Cvc words ...and all she does is segmenting and blending. We read every day for 10-15 mins and she doesn't seem to get past the segmenting of even the simplest words. I mean she's been writing 'cat' for ages but when it comes in a book she goes c-a-t. Plus half way through the book she gets really frustrated, I suspect the graphemes start jumbling up and she starts mis-reading. Then she says she doesn't want to do it. I feel there is no progress there. She gets very emotional and hates it.

Plus the pace is very slow. It takes her quite a bit to read 'Dad sat in it'.

There is a strong genetic link from her fathers side to dyslexia and I have been worrying about it for quite a while so I guess I might be reading into it a bit too much. Her dad is an avid reader now, but his spelling is very poor.

Can anyone relate to this?

OP posts:
alittleadvicepls · 02/12/2022 10:10

She’s 5! Are you not expecting a bit too much from a 5 year old?

Original poster
Sanamarin · 02/12/2022 10:12

alittleadvicepls · 02/12/2022 10:10

She’s 5! Are you not expecting a bit too much from a 5 year old?

Am I? We are just reading the books that the school sends home.

OP posts:
Shrewsbury247 · 02/12/2022 10:14

A Ed Psych won’t look at a child re a dyslexia assessment until they are at least 7.
mid keep an eye but give it time.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Primary education
ErrolTheDragon · 02/12/2022 10:20

Too early. Obviously it's something to keep your eye on with the family history but reading just doesn't kick in for some kids till later.

alittleadvicepls · 02/12/2022 10:22

We’re nowhere near that level of reading with my 6 year old but teacher isn’t concerned. He’s flying with maths though. Some kids just shine in different areas but again, they’re still so young. Wouldn’t stress too much. School will flag it if they suspect something.

Skiphopbump · 02/12/2022 10:23

I wouldn’t be concerned in your situation, your Dd seems to be doing really well with her spelling. The reading will probably suddenly click for her when she’s ready.

Christmasbaubleswithtinselon · 02/12/2022 10:25

Screening happens at 5 years now. Speak to her school as ask if they can do a simple screening on her.

If there is a strong family history of dyslexia then that’s reason in itself to have her checked. Honestly, the earlier the better. I know from experience. I had to fight to have my son screened. We wasted two years of the school telling me he wasn’t. We paid privately in the end at the age of 7 and it turns out he is very prominently dyslexic but had methods of masking it. We could have managed things very differently had we known earlier.

KnickerlessParsons · 02/12/2022 10:32

Matt Hancock is dyslexic and said he'd be donating some of his jungle money to dyslexia charities because the condition isn't usually picked up on early enough.
Having said that, I'd abandon the segmentation technique for learning to read and teach your DD to recognise whole words. Eg show her "cat" and ask her to find the same word on another page.
It worked for my DD, who couldn't get on with the way she was taught in school.
People learn things in different ways. The "one size fits all" method in schools is understandable as they can't tailor their teaching for every individual, but you can at home.

24petlegs · 02/12/2022 10:33

We we’re in a similar position with DS.
We got his eyes tested and found he was extremely longsighted; he could read the letters but reading sentences was a huge struggle as the words jumped around the page and he couldn’t focus…and then got tired and frustrated.
He had passed his Reception eye-test but then they were only testing short-sightedness.
His glasses solved all reading issues.

Original poster
Sanamarin · 02/12/2022 10:34

24petlegs · 02/12/2022 10:33

We we’re in a similar position with DS.
We got his eyes tested and found he was extremely longsighted; he could read the letters but reading sentences was a huge struggle as the words jumped around the page and he couldn’t focus…and then got tired and frustrated.
He had passed his Reception eye-test but then they were only testing short-sightedness.
His glasses solved all reading issues.

I have been thinking about checking her eye sight too. I'm glad this sorted your son's reading problems.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sanamarin · 02/12/2022 10:36

KnickerlessParsons · 02/12/2022 10:32

Matt Hancock is dyslexic and said he'd be donating some of his jungle money to dyslexia charities because the condition isn't usually picked up on early enough.
Having said that, I'd abandon the segmentation technique for learning to read and teach your DD to recognise whole words. Eg show her "cat" and ask her to find the same word on another page.
It worked for my DD, who couldn't get on with the way she was taught in school.
People learn things in different ways. The "one size fits all" method in schools is understandable as they can't tailor their teaching for every individual, but you can at home.

Thank you, would you be able to direct me to other resources on how to teach her to recognise whole words?

OP posts:
Original poster
Sanamarin · 02/12/2022 10:37

Christmasbaubleswithtinselon · 02/12/2022 10:25

Screening happens at 5 years now. Speak to her school as ask if they can do a simple screening on her.

If there is a strong family history of dyslexia then that’s reason in itself to have her checked. Honestly, the earlier the better. I know from experience. I had to fight to have my son screened. We wasted two years of the school telling me he wasn’t. We paid privately in the end at the age of 7 and it turns out he is very prominently dyslexic but had methods of masking it. We could have managed things very differently had we known earlier.

Thank you for your advice. This is what I'm thinking, the earlier she is diagnosed the better I can support her.

OP posts:
Heatherbell1978 · 02/12/2022 10:46

I have a very smart 5 year old who can't read yet and it hasn't even occurred to me there could be an issue there! It feels incredibly young for you to have concerns about her reading.

Bakeacaketoday · 02/12/2022 10:48

You are 100% right to think about it, but not to worry!

100% get her eyes tested ASAP.

Don't push reading - get her audio books to listen to and get her a reading pen thingy.

Try printing out the words from a book in dyslexia font (google it!), and see if she can read them more easily....

She won't be tested until 7 but with a family history of dyslexia I would do that regardless as soon as she hits 7.

It's how I realised my DS was dyslexic - he was not able to read to a level I thought him capable of. The problem was he was reading better than many other kids in the class. The school just kept telling me he was average and "they don't all read chapter books at age 5 you know" - making me seem like a pushy parent and doubt myself.

Bakeacaketoday · 02/12/2022 10:52

I should just add, I didn't know he was dyslexic until he was (eventually) tested age 8 as I was making a fuss, and I think the school thought it would shut me up 🙄, but I could see there was a problem as he was bright/smart/eloquent for his age, but seemingly not able to grasp reading.

Bakeacaketoday · 02/12/2022 10:58

alittleadvicepls · 02/12/2022 10:22

We’re nowhere near that level of reading with my 6 year old but teacher isn’t concerned. He’s flying with maths though. Some kids just shine in different areas but again, they’re still so young. Wouldn’t stress too much. School will flag it if they suspect something.

My Ds's teachers weren't concerned either and kept saying the same thing. I would absolutely get everyone tested at 7 with this kind of history. "Flying with maths" but not so good at reading is classic dyslexia territory.

Original poster
Sanamarin · 02/12/2022 10:58

Heatherbell1978 · 02/12/2022 10:46

I have a very smart 5 year old who can't read yet and it hasn't even occurred to me there could be an issue there! It feels incredibly young for you to have concerns about her reading.

Just as a previous poster said about her DC, she is not reading at the level that I think she is capable of. School has been sending books for about 7 weeks now, all simple cvc words and I don't feel there is any progress. She is crying in frustration when I ask her to read.

OP posts:
gemloving · 02/12/2022 10:59

@Sanamarin hello. Just a personal experience. Traumatic experience as a child when it comes to reading out loud. I hated it, I was no good at it and the pressure that was put on me was awful. Even now my chest still gets tight if I had to read out loud but I love reading. I am German, did English and Spanish for A levels ended up going to university in england studying Spanish, soooo just because it might not come natural to child doesn't mean it won't be a lot better when getting older. She's only 5 though, you don't start school and don't learn to read before the age of 7 in Finland which is considered the best education system in the world.

Original poster
Sanamarin · 02/12/2022 11:01

Bakeacaketoday · 02/12/2022 10:48

You are 100% right to think about it, but not to worry!

100% get her eyes tested ASAP.

Don't push reading - get her audio books to listen to and get her a reading pen thingy.

Try printing out the words from a book in dyslexia font (google it!), and see if she can read them more easily....

She won't be tested until 7 but with a family history of dyslexia I would do that regardless as soon as she hits 7.

It's how I realised my DS was dyslexic - he was not able to read to a level I thought him capable of. The problem was he was reading better than many other kids in the class. The school just kept telling me he was average and "they don't all read chapter books at age 5 you know" - making me seem like a pushy parent and doubt myself.

DD's teacher also says she is fine and makes me feel like a pushy parent. Without the family history, I think I'd not have been concerned. But I always do wonder when she struggles. Might be developmental, but might be dyslexia.

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 02/12/2022 11:03

There was a similar thread yesterday. It is highly unlikely that you will get a diagnosis in Ks1, simply because some children pick up reading slower than others. If there is a learning difficulty causing the slower uptake then that will become more obvious by age 7 or 8.

You could trial some dyslexia friendly reading approaches. Overlays / coloured reading rulers as some children find the contrast of black print on white paper harder to read. Buying books formatted for those with dyslexia. Trying those things won't hurt.

The important thing is to build her vocabulary by reading to her, listening to audio books etc.

The reason she gets frustrated half way through is that reading takes several different skills and is tiring. Just like when you learn to drive and you have so much to remember but it soon becomes second nature.

lifeinthehills · 02/12/2022 11:06

I'd get her eyes tested to start. Do the letters seem to move on the page? If so, maybe Irlen, or keep a watch. She sounds like she's doing well.

Seriously though, I have one with hyperlexia (reading and writing before 3) and one who had a delayed start to reading because of learning difficulties. They're pretty much grown now and there are no signs of the very different start. It evens out in the long run, even if some have to work harder for it at first. Your daughter sounds like she's doing well.

Original poster
Sanamarin · 02/12/2022 11:06

gemloving · 02/12/2022 10:59

@Sanamarin hello. Just a personal experience. Traumatic experience as a child when it comes to reading out loud. I hated it, I was no good at it and the pressure that was put on me was awful. Even now my chest still gets tight if I had to read out loud but I love reading. I am German, did English and Spanish for A levels ended up going to university in england studying Spanish, soooo just because it might not come natural to child doesn't mean it won't be a lot better when getting older. She's only 5 though, you don't start school and don't learn to read before the age of 7 in Finland which is considered the best education system in the world.

Sorry to hear about your traumatic experience. I also started school at the age of 7, in a different country, and at that age learning to read was easy. But in England they start early and there is a lot of pressure on the kids to be honest, DD's school is quite academic. I don't want her to feel like she's not good enough.

DD's dad had very traumatic early school years due to his dyslexia and has impacted his confidence and self-esteem. I don't want DD to experience this.

OP posts:
HarvestThyme · 02/12/2022 11:07

Any good ed psych will want sight and hearing tests done before anything else. Start there.

Original poster
Sanamarin · 02/12/2022 11:09

Singleandproud · 02/12/2022 11:03

There was a similar thread yesterday. It is highly unlikely that you will get a diagnosis in Ks1, simply because some children pick up reading slower than others. If there is a learning difficulty causing the slower uptake then that will become more obvious by age 7 or 8.

You could trial some dyslexia friendly reading approaches. Overlays / coloured reading rulers as some children find the contrast of black print on white paper harder to read. Buying books formatted for those with dyslexia. Trying those things won't hurt.

The important thing is to build her vocabulary by reading to her, listening to audio books etc.

The reason she gets frustrated half way through is that reading takes several different skills and is tiring. Just like when you learn to drive and you have so much to remember but it soon becomes second nature.

Thank you for your great advice. I'm interested in the other thread you mentioned, are you able to post the link? Thank you.

OP posts:
Choconut · 02/12/2022 11:13

If she is finding reading the books stressful you could read the book to her first and then get her to read it to you after to improve her confidence, or you could take it in turns to read pages - read yours slowly and run your finger underneath so she can follow along. Also talk about the pictures and what is happening while reading the books, what does she think is going to happen next etc.