Many parents sense something is off long before anyone gives it a name. A child who loves stories but dreads reading aloud. A bright kid whose spelling looks different every time. If that sounds familiar, you are not imagining it, and you are not alone. Dyslexia affects about 1 in 5 people (Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity), and the signs often look different from one age to the next.
This checklist walks through common signs by age, explains what dyslexia is (and is not), and points you to screening and help in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
What dyslexia is, and what it is not
Dyslexia is a difficulty with the sounds of spoken language, which makes it hard to connect sounds to letters and to read and spell words accurately and fluently. It is not a vision problem, and it has nothing to do with intelligence or effort. Yale notes that glasses or special fonts will not fix it (Yale FAQ). Many children with dyslexia are creative, curious, and good thinkers who simply need to be taught to read in a different way.
Signs of dyslexia by age
No single sign means a child has dyslexia, and children often show some of these signs and not others. Look for a pattern that lasts over time. These lists are adapted from the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity and Understood.org.
Preschool (ages 3 to 5)
- Has trouble learning nursery rhymes or noticing words that rhyme.
- Is slow to learn letter names, even the letters in their own name.
- Mispronounces familiar words or keeps “baby talk” longer than expected.
- Uses vague words or grabs for the wrong word when trying to say something.
- Has trouble following multi-step directions.
- A parent, sibling, or other relative has had trouble with reading or spelling.
Kindergarten through 2nd grade
- Has trouble connecting letters to the sounds they make.
- Does not seem to hear that words are made of separate sounds.
- Guesses at words, swaps in other words, or relies on picture clues.
- Mixes up letters that look or sound alike.
- Struggles to read short, familiar words without pictures.
- Finds spelling very hard, and starts to say reading is hard or avoids it.
3rd through 5th grade
- Skips or misreads small words when reading aloud.
- Reads slowly and with effort, and struggles with unfamiliar words.
- Spells the same word several different ways, even on one page.
- Has trouble retelling a story or remembering key details.
- Gets frustrated, or avoids reading aloud.
Middle and high school
- Reads slowly, so homework that involves reading takes much longer than it should.
- Avoids reading aloud, or pauses and uses filler sounds when they have to.
- Spells inconsistently, and finds proofreading and organizing writing difficult.
- Has trouble finishing timed tests.
- Understands a text much better when it is read aloud.
Why early help matters
Yale reports that signs can appear before a child starts school, because reading is built on spoken language, and that early screening and evidence-based reading instruction help children succeed. Dyslexia is lifelong, but with the right instruction children learn to read and write well. The earlier a child gets that instruction, the less time they spend falling behind and losing confidence.
A sign is not a diagnosis
A checklist cannot tell you whether your child has dyslexia. It can tell you when it is time to ask for an evaluation. A professional evaluation looks at reading, spelling, and the underlying sound skills, and it can also rule out other things, such as vision or hearing problems, that make reading hard. Understood.org recommends getting an evaluation if you are concerned. A school evaluation can be a first step, and it does not cost you anything.
Dyslexia screening in Arkansas and Oklahoma
Both states have rules about early reading screening, and knowing them helps you ask the right questions at school.
- Arkansas: According to the Arkansas Department of Education’s dyslexia rules, a school district must screen all students in kindergarten, first, second, and third grade for dyslexia (Arkansas Department of Education). Ask your child’s school for the screening results.
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma law requires dyslexia screening for K-3 students who are not meeting reading targets under the Reading Sufficiency Act. In 2024-25, the state’s own data showed that about 16.8% of K-3 students had characteristics that suggest a risk of dyslexia (Oklahoma State Department of Education). A screening result points to risk. It is not a diagnosis. Laws change, so confirm the current rules with your child’s school or the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
If your child is not in K-3, or you are worried before the school screens, you can still request an evaluation in writing at any age. Our article on IEPs for Arkansas and Oklahoma families explains what to do after an evaluation.
What you can do this week
- Write down what you see. Note examples with dates: a spelling test, a worksheet, a moment when reading aloud was hard.
- Ask the school for the screening and reading data they already have, and request an evaluation in writing if you are still worried.
- Check vision and hearing with your child’s doctor so those can be ruled out.
- Keep reading together. Read aloud, listen to audiobooks, and keep books fun. Struggling with decoding does not mean a child cannot love stories.
- Look into structured, multisensory instruction. Programs such as the Orton-Gillingham approach and the Barton Reading Program teach the sounds and patterns of English step by step.
Talk with us
KC Tutoring is locally owned and operated, offering dyslexia and dysgraphia tutoring for families across the River Valley. Our tutors use the Orton-Gillingham approach and the Barton Reading Program. If you recognize your child in this checklist and want to talk about next steps, send us a request and we will get back to you.
This article is general information, not medical, legal, or diagnostic advice. Only a qualified professional can tell you whether your child has dyslexia.