• While one in five Americans are affected by dyslexia, a lack of understanding persists.
• 14% of students with a learning disability drop out of school. 

Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, with an estimated one in five Americans affected, according to the International Dyslexia Association. ProCare Therapy healthcare professionals are urging parents to educate themselves on the signs of dyslexia and to consider testing children who are showing these signs as the 2023 school year begins.  

Roughly 14% of students aged 14-21 with a learning disability dropped out of school, a significantly higher rate than the overall high school dropout rate of 5.2%, according to the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics. 

However, Stephanie Morris, Senior Vice President at ProCare Therapy claims there is still a disturbing lack of knowledge about the condition, hindering students from receiving the support they need to succeed.  

“Early detection and intervention can drastically improve students’ chances for academic success. However, because it is so complex, many parents lack an understanding of the disorder and how it can present itself in different ways. People often associate dyslexia with symptoms like seeing letters backward or flipping words in a sentence, but it can be so much more than that,” said Morris.

ProCare Therapy healthcare professionals have shared the common signs of dyslexia in children and encourage parents who are concerned about their child’s reading or speaking abilities to see a professional.  

Signs of Dyslexia in Children: 

1.      Spends an unusual amount of time attempting to read or write something  

2.      Avoids reading or writing activities or tasks 

3.      Makes frequent mistakes when reading, especially when reading aloud 

4.      Struggles to learn new words or to find the right words to use when speaking 

5.      Reverses sounds when speaking  

6.      Reads below age level 

7.      Struggles to remember sequences and numbers but has excellent long-term memory for experiences and faces 

8.      Has trouble learning rhymes 

9.      Has increased difficulty completing worded math problems 

10.   Struggles with multi-step instructions