Dyslexia in middle school: 4 signs you might see
Expert reviewed by Sheldon H. Horowitz, EdD
It’s not uncommon to start noticing signs of dyslexia in middle school. Workloads increase, which makes it hard for kids to hide their trouble with reading. Here’s what dyslexia can look like in middle school.
1. Reading very slowly
Sounding out or decoding words is really hard with dyslexia. And this can slow down the reading process. Your child may take a very long time to finish homework that involves reading. At school, your child may escape to the bathroom to avoid reading out loud in class. (See more reasons kids might read slowly.)
2. Trouble finding the right word to say
Dyslexia can make it hard to find the right word or to pronounce it correctly. Your child may stammer and say “um” and other filler words a lot. At school, your child may use a word that sounds similar to the right word but has a different meaning (like saying “distinct” instead of “extinct”).
3. Struggling with writing assignments
Dyslexia can affect spelling, which can make it hard for kids to proofread their own work. Your child may spell the same word differently in the same essay. Or your child may have trouble sharing ideas in an organized way and with the right spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
4. Struggling to fit in
Dyslexia affects communication in lots of ways, including social skills. Your child may not pick up on body language or learn from social blunders. At school, your child may struggle to “fit in” or work in groups.
Explore more signs of dyslexia at different ages. And find out what steps to take if you think your middle-schooler has dyslexia.
