Could my child be dyslexic? Understanding the Signs and Where to Find Support
Dyslexia Awareness Week 2026 | 5–11 October
Have you ever wondered whether your child is finding reading, writing or schoolwork harder than they need to?
Perhaps they seem to struggle with things that other children appear to pick up more easily. Maybe reading takes a long time, spelling is frustrating, instructions are difficult to remember, or homework seems to take an enormous amount of effort.
You might simply have a feeling that something isn't quite clicking.
And that feeling is worth listening to.
Dyslexia Awareness Week takes place from 5–11 October 2026, organised by the British Dyslexia Association. This year's theme is Dyslexia in real life: At work, looking at the experiences of dyslexic people in the workplace.
But awareness isn't just about adults. Understanding dyslexia early can help children receive the support they need and, perhaps just as importantly, understand that struggling with certain aspects of learning doesn't mean they aren't capable.
Our own dyslexia story
Dyslexia is something that is personal to our family too.
One of my children is dyslexic, and when we look back now, there were signs there quite early on.
But we didn't immediately recognise them as signs of dyslexia.
Like many parents, we simply thought that perhaps certain things would come with time. Children all develop at different rates, after all. In the early days, l often compared my sons milestones with his older sister but when it came to school milestones there were definite differences which at first, l put down to the simple fact that boys and girls were different.
Then lockdown changed things.
With schoolwork suddenly happening at home, we had a completely different view of how our child was approaching learning. We were able to see first-hand what happened when they were asked to read, write and complete schoolwork independently.
It was during this time that things really started to become clearer.
We were incredibly fortunate to have a teacher from our sons school, who also offered private tuition, helping with their learning. She noticed some of the difficulties we were seeing and suggested that we speak to school and also look into having a private dyslexia assessment.
That conversation was an important turning point for us.
It wasn't about putting a label on our child.
It was about understanding how they learn.
Once we had a better understanding of his strengths and difficulties, we could start looking at ways to make learning more accessible and less frustrating.
And I think that's one of the most important things for parents to remember:
A dyslexia assessment isn't about defining your child. It's about helping you understand them.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that can affect reading, writing and the processing of written language.
It can look different from one child to another, and children may develop ways of working around their difficulties. This means that dyslexia isn't always obvious.
It also isn't a reflection of intelligence.
A child can be bright, creative, curious and capable while finding reading, spelling or written work particularly challenging.
Dyslexia can also affect things beyond reading and writing, including memory, organisation, processing information and following instructions.
What signs should parents look out for?
There isn't one single sign that means a child is dyslexic. Many children experience some of these difficulties at different stages of development.
It's more useful to look for patterns that persist over time and seem to be making learning unnecessarily difficult. We spent many evenings in the early days practicing spellings only for them to be forgetten by the time the spelling test took place. This was one of the first signs that made me wonder if there was something more making learning difficult for our son.
In younger children, you might notice:
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Difficulty learning nursery rhymes or songs
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Difficulty remembering or reciting the alphabet
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Muddling words or finding it difficult to find the right word
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Difficulty remembering sequences
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Problems with recognising letters or sounds
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Difficulty following simple instructions
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Reluctance to engage with books or language-based activities
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Difficulty learning new words
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Challenges with coordination or learning certain everyday skills
The British Dyslexia Association stresses that many young children will show some of these behaviours as part of normal development. What can be more significant is the severity and persistence of the difficulties.
During primary school, you might notice:
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Reading that is noticeably slower or more hesitant
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Difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words
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Regular spelling mistakes
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Difficulty remembering previously learned spellings or words
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Losing their place when reading
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Difficulty following several instructions
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Forgetting things they've recently been taught
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Difficulty organising schoolwork
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Writing that takes a long time or is difficult to read
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Becoming tired or frustrated by reading and writing
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Avoiding activities that involve lots of reading
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A noticeable difference between what they can explain verbally and what they can put down on paper
The NHS also highlights difficulties with reading, writing, spelling, numbers, telling the time, remembering sequences and organising schoolwork as possible signs.
As children get older
Sometimes dyslexia becomes more noticeable as schoolwork becomes more demanding.
A child may be able to read reasonably well but struggle to understand or remember what they've read. They may have difficulty getting their thoughts onto paper, organising longer pieces of work or keeping up when there are several instructions to follow.
Some children become very good at hiding their difficulties too.
They might avoid reading aloud, rely heavily on memory, copy other children's work or find ways around tasks they know they'll struggle with.
And sometimes the biggest clue isn't the work itself.
It's how your child feels about it.
Are they becoming frustrated? Avoiding homework? Saying they're "stupid" because something takes them longer? Losing confidence in an area they once enjoyed?
These things are worth talking about.
What should I do if I think my child may be dyslexic?
Firstly, don't panic.
Seeing some of these signs doesn't automatically mean your child is dyslexic. There can be lots of reasons why a child finds reading, writing or schoolwork difficult.
A good starting point is to talk to your child's teacher or SENCO.
They can discuss what they've noticed in school, what support is already being provided and whether further assessment might be appropriate.
It's also helpful to write down the things you're noticing at home.
For example:
"My child..."
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Struggles to remember spellings they've previously learned.
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Avoids reading whenever possible.
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Finds it difficult to follow several instructions.
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Takes much longer than expected to complete written work.
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Can explain an answer verbally but struggles to write it down.
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Becomes particularly frustrated by reading or homework.
Having specific examples can make conversations with school much more useful.
What about a dyslexia assessment?
A formal diagnosis is made through a Diagnostic Assessment carried out by a certified dyslexia assessor. The British Dyslexia Association explains that an assessment can provide a detailed picture of a child's strengths and areas of difficulty and help identify how best to support them.
It's worth remembering that support doesn't necessarily have to wait for a formal diagnosis.
If your child is struggling, speak to their school about what adjustments and additional support may be available now.
Where can parents find help?
There is lots of information available, but knowing where to start can feel overwhelming.
Here are some organisations worth exploring:
British Dyslexia Association
The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) provides information, resources and guidance for children, parents, adults and education professionals. They also have information about recognising the signs of dyslexia and diagnostic assessment.
Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity
Helen Arkell provides specialist support, advice and information for people with dyslexia, as well as parents, teachers and employers.
Dyslexia Scotland
For families in Scotland, Dyslexia Scotland provides information and support and runs its own Dyslexia Awareness Week. In 2026, this takes place from 28 September–4 October.
IPSEA
If your child's difficulties involve special educational needs and you need help understanding your rights around education and support, IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) offers free, independent, legally based information and advice for parents.
Most importantly, listen to your child
One of the biggest things our own experience has taught me is that sometimes you know your child is finding something difficult before you know why.
You don't need to have all the answers.
You don't need to diagnose your child yourself.
And you certainly don't need to compare them with other children.
If something doesn't feel quite right, start a conversation.
Ask their teacher what they see.
Ask your child how they feel about reading and schoolwork.
And keep asking questions until you feel you understand what is happening.
For our family, lockdown gave us an unexpected opportunity to see our child's learning up close. A teacher's observations then helped us take the next step towards an assessment.
That changed our understanding of our child.
Not because a diagnosis changed who they were.
It helped us understand who they already were.
Dyslexia doesn't define a child
A child who struggles to read quickly may be an incredible storyteller.
A child who finds spelling difficult may have a wonderful imagination.
A child who struggles to get their thoughts onto paper may be able to explain them brilliantly out loud.
And a child who needs more time to process something may simply need the opportunity to learn in a different way.
Children don't all learn in the same way.
Sometimes our job as parents isn't to make them fit the mould.
It's to help them find the way that works for them.
This Dyslexia Awareness Week, let's look beyond the difficulties and remember the whole child.
If you're concerned about your child's development or learning, speak to their teacher, SENCO or an appropriate qualified professional. This article is intended as general information and is not a diagnostic tool.