Child or student characteristics

List of dyslexic symptoms specific to children and students
 
 
   

 

   
 

Video

About dyslexia

Go to "In the news" (above) to watch Ronald D. Davis explain dyslexia - the gift and the disability.

   

 

   
 

Free

Assessments and seminars

To sign up for assessments and information seminars call 685-0067 or go to our contact page.

     
   

 

   
 

Client comments

 

For more in depth testimonials visit our testimonials page.

   

 

37 common characteristics of disorientation

 
 

 

For a quick online assessment, click here

For a printable checklist, click here

© 1992 by Ronald D. Davis.

Reprinted with permission.

Most people with dyslexia or ADD will exhibit about 10 of the following traits and behaviours. These characteristics can vary from day-to-day or minute-to-minute. The most consistent thing about them is their inconsistency.

   

 

 
 

General

  • Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate, but unable to read, write or spell at grade level.
  • Labelled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, not trying hard enough or behaviour problem.
  • Isn't "behind enough" or "bad enough" to be helped in the school setting.
  • High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests well orally, but not written.
  • Feels dumb, has poor self-esteem, hides or covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies, easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing.
  • Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building or engineering.
  • Seems to "zone out" or daydream often, gets lost easily or loses track of time.
  • Difficulty sustaining attention, seems hyper or to daydream.
  • Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation and visual aids.

Vision, reading, and spelling

  • Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading.

  • Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences or verbal explanations.

  • Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences or verbal explanations.

  • Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words.

  • Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing or copying.

  • Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don't reveal a problem.

  • Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception and peripheral vision.

  • Reads and rereads with little comprehension. 

  • Spells phonetically and inconsistently.

 

Hearing and speech

  • Has extended hearing in that they hear things not said or apparent to others, easily distracted by sounds.

  • Difficulty putting thoughts into words, speaks in halting phrases, leaves sentences incomplete, stutters under stress, mispronounces long words, or transposes phrases, words and syllables when speaking.

Writing and motor skills

  • Trouble with writing or copying, pencil grip is unusual, handwriting varies or is illegible.

  • Clumsy, uncoordinated, poor at ball or team sports, difficulties with fine and/or gross motor skills and tasks, prone to motion-sickness.

  • Can be ambidextrous, and often confuses left/right, over/under.

Math and time management

  • Has difficulty telling time, managing time, learning sequenced information or tasks, or being on time.

  • Computing math shows dependence on finger counting and other tricks; knows answers, but can't do it on paper.

  • Can count, but has difficulty counting objects and dealing with money.

  • Can do arithmetic, but fails word problems; cannot grasp algebra or higher math.

Memory and cognition

  • Excellent long-term memory for experiences, locations and faces.

  • Poor memory for sequences, facts and information that has not been experienced.

  • Thinks primarily with images and feeling, not sounds or words (little internal dialogue).

Behaviour, health, development and personality

  • Extremely disorderly or compulsively orderly.

  • Can be class clown, trouble-maker or too quiet.

  • Had unusually early or late developmental stages (talking, crawling, walking, tying shoes).

  • Prone to ear infections, sensitive to foods, additives, and chemical products.

  • Can be an extra deep or light sleeper, bedwetting beyond appropriate age.

  • Unusually high or low tolerance for pain.

  • Strong sense of justice, emotionally sensitive, strives for perfection.

  • Mistakes and symptoms increase dramatically with confusion, time pressure, emotional stress or poor health.

 

More information:

If you match 10 or more of these symptoms, contact us to receive a free assessment

The Davis Dyslexia Correction® Program helps people with these characteristics every day. These disabling aspects of dyslexia are correctable and can be overcome.

 

[back]     [top of page]

   
 

 

 

Davis Dyslexia Association International Logo

fully licensed by:

Davis Dyslexia Association International

Rocky Point Academy Logo

 (866) 685-0067

www.rockypointacademy.com

 


We gladly accept:We accept VISA, Mastercard, Interac and personal cheques


Professional services described as Davis™, Davis Dyslexia Correction®, Davis Symbol Mastery®, Davis Orientation Counseling®, and Davis Math Mastery® may only be provided by persons who are employed by a licensed Davis Specialist, or who are trained and licensed as Davis Facilitators by Davis Dyslexia Association International.


Rocky Point Academy is committed to respecting the personal privacy of individuals who visit this web site.  Rocky Point Academy does not gather any information from you during your visit to our web site.  To see our complete privacy policy, visit our privacy page.


The information posted on this website is promotional and informational in nature, and shall not form part of any contract.