If you’ve been wondering if your child might have dyslexia, you might have turned to the web to look for a list of dyslexia symptoms. not long into your search, you begin to feel confused: every website lists a different set of dyslexia symptoms. why can’t the collective “they” on the worldwide web get their act together? why does the list of symptoms differ from one site to the next?

The fact is that dyslexia cannot be defined according to a set list of symptoms, since every case is unique. Some cases may be so mild there are almost no discernible symptoms while other cases are so severe that the manifestations of the condition are devastating. in addition to the level of severity of the condition, dyslexia is often accompanied by other learning difficulties such as ADD or ADHD.

It is also important to consider the fact that dyslexia is caused by a physiological impairment of the brain. There are actual physical differences in the brains of dyslexics which can be seen in imaging studies. These deficits are not “standardized.” Dyslexia, in this light, is almost a catch-all term encompassing many difficulties and levels of difficulties, according to the individual.

Still, early diagnosis is crucial for a number of reasons. for one thing, it is important to make a child’s educator aware that the child has an actual deficit. this is important even from a psychological standpoint: children with dyslexia should be met with understanding and a helpful attitude by their educators. Without a firm diagnosis, it’s possible an educator might adopt the attitude that your child “just isn’t trying hard enough.” Such an attitude may have an adverse effect on your child’s self-esteem, compounding his problems even further.

Also, youth is an important factor in ameliorating reading difficulties and other issues relating to literacy skills and math. The earlier we discover the nature of the problem, the sooner we can get the child the help he needs to cope and improve. The brain is capable of making changes throughout the entire lifespan, but certain types of brain changes—specific characteristics of neuroplasticity—are more available at a younger age.

Despite the impossibility of building a cut and dried list of dyslexia symptoms, a parent may notice some differences in his child that lead him to suspect dyslexia. if you think your child might have dyslexia, have him tested when he turns five. this is even more important for children who have dyslexia or ADD/ADHD in their families, since there may be a genetic factor predisposing a child to these learning difficulties.