Reading difficulties in children are related to neurological conditions that affect the ability to process, store or produce information. Early diagnosis of the issue can allow children to receive essential support and tools for reading. It can help prevent frustration that can lead to poor self-esteem and behavioral problems. 

Parents and teachers can learn how to identify children with reading difficulties. Testing children as soon as possible helps in planning effective interventions. Below are early signs of reading difficulties in children. 
 

Confusing Some Letters

Children with reading difficulties tend to confuse letters that look or sound alike. These include the letters p/v/d and f/v. It is normal for young children or beginners to rotate or reverse similar-looking or sounding letters, initially. 

However, this goes away as the child continues to learn. When these errors persist, they can indicate a reading difficulty. 
 

Difficulty Remembering Sight Words

Sight words are commonly used words that children should recognize instantly and effortlessly. Words such as to, for, it, the, and a are common in English. Identifying the words is essential for reading sentences without stopping. Multisensory recall techniques can help children grasp words easily. 
 

Failing to Recall Letter Sounds

Children with a reading issue do not remember sounds (phonemes) associated with words (b for ball). Failure of the letters to stick in the child's memory can indicate an auditory issue, a processing problem, or other difficulties. 
 

Difficulty With Rhyming Words

Some children have difficulties identifying or generating rhyming words, and the words mat and bat sound the same to them. Rhyming shows that a child can hear language effectively. Even after the intervention, continued struggles can indicate dyslexia or a speech disorder. 
 

Omitting Word Endings

Reading difficulties can cause children to omit the endings of words, such as -ed, -s, and -ing, among others. If your child fails to read the word endings, it could indicate apraxia, dyslexia, or an articulation or phonological disorder.  
 

Difficulties With Memory

Poor memory can be a sign of reading difficulty in children. The child cannot recall what he reads or is read to him earlier. The brain process may work slowly, or they may have attention issues that cause them to lose track of a story. It may take longer to understand words on a page, or the meaning is lost as the child's attention wanders away. It can indicate a neurological issue.
 

Misspelling Words Consistently

Below-grade-level spelling can be a sign of reading difficulty. Children with reading issues misspell words consistently, using different spellings or variations of the word. The problem may be due to dyslexia, or a writing disorder known as dysgraphia. Children's brains learn differently, and reading difficulties are linked to brain function.

Reading difficulties are not necessarily an indication of intelligence. Children sometimes struggle to process or retrieve the information they have. Sometimes, getting information into the long-term memory fast enough is hard. Vision is connected to the brain, and a skilled vision therapist can help children with reading difficulties. It is vital to look out for early signs of the issues. 

For more early signs of reading difficulty in children, visit Veo Vision Therapy at our office in Wichita, Kansas. Call us at (316) 999-4100 to schedule an appointment today.