DD has trouble recognising written letters, but has the other reading skills, should I worry yet? Dyslexia?

[doodleloo]

Had a talk to DD's teacher the other day. DD is only 5 so I know it is very early to worry too much and that no diagnosis can be made until 7. I can't help but worry a bit though.

So DD can:
Spell out words verbally (ie. ask her how to spell cat and she will verbally blend c-a-t);
write letters very neatly and nicely (copying); but
she can't make the link between the written letter and its sound!

Teacher said it is a little unusual to be so good at the other skills but have trouble with letter recognition. She also said it is too early to diagnose dyslexia but also couldn't rule it out.

Am worried. Have any of you had similar issues with your child and they have either gone on to progress typically or have eventually been diagnosed with dyslexia?

Thank you.

I have taught Year 1 for the past three years and have met a fair few children in a similar position. I don't think you need to be massively concerned. It seems that your dd has a lot of the component skills and just needs to put them together! It's incredible really the number of things that children need to think about when writing even a simple word.

I think that as long as your dd is having regular phonics in school, she will soon learn the association between the letters and the sounds. If she is still struggling a lot by the end of Year 1 then it may be worth looking into further.

Associating a 'sound' with a symbol (i.e a letter) is a naming skill (to a child who knows no different the 'sound' is just the 'name' of the letter). Is she able to readily 'name' other things, such as shapes, colours, objects?

Thanks ellesabe, I really wasn't sure how worried I should or shouldn't be, but I think as the teacher specifically pointed it out I was concerned. Will relax a bit for a while I think!
MaizieD - yes, she does name things very readily.

I just asked because there might have been a problem if she couldn't name things...

I wouldn't worry yet, either...