Do I Have Dyslexia - Explaining Symptoms and Myths for Kids

What do you do when you learn that your child has dyslexia? Should you hide this diagnosis to protect them from labels and misunderstandings, or should you tell them? If you do decide to tell them, how do you do this? Can you help them overcome any potential fears or misunderstandings? These are the questions that I answer in this blog. Feel free to use my kid-friendly graphics.

Child-friendly infographic explaining dyslexia myths and symptoms for kids, showing common signs such as reading difficulty, letter reversals, spelling challenges, and trouble following directions.

What are the Benefits of Telling Your Child That He or She Has Dyslexia?

Educating your child with dyslexia about the common signs and misconceptions can help them to:

understand that they learn in a different way than other kids who don’t have dyslexia.
shed negative labels such as stupid, careless, unmotivated, and lazy.
correct any misunderstandings.
identify with other successful people who have dyslexia.
acquire the needed intervention and instruction in school.
learn that many people with dyslexia have strengths that others do not have. Individuals with dyslexia are often:

great at communicating their ideas aloud.
creative, critical thinkers.
good at seeing the big picture.
excellent at solving puzzles and building things.

Young student smiling while writing, representing dyslexia support resources

Help your Child Understand Dyslexia by Reviewing the Eleven Common Signs

Show your child the image below and read the list out loud. Ask them to identify which symptoms describe their difficulties.

You have or had trouble with letter reversals (b and d) and word reversals (was and saw).
You have had or have trouble reading aloud.
You have or had trouble with word problems in math.
You have or had trouble understanding jokes, punchlines, sarcasm, and inferences.
You have or had trouble following a series of written or aural directions.
You have or had trouble mispronouncing words.
You have or had trouble rhyming words.
You have or had trouble telling directions.
You have or had trouble recalling names or words.
You have or had trouble with spelling
You have or had trouble learning how to read.

What are the Four Myths and Truths about Dyslexia?

Show your child the graphic below and read the list of myths and truths out loud. Ask them to respond to each of the myths - "Have you ever felt this way?" Then read the truth and address any questions.

Myth #1: People with dyslexia are not smart.
Truth #1: Many dyslexic individuals are extremely bright and creative. In fact, many kids with dyslexia are gifted. Watch a video on famous people with dyslexia: Click Here

Myth #2: People with dyslexia cannot learn to read or write.
Truth #2: With the right intervention and instruction, people with dyslexia can become excellent readers and writers.

Myth #3: People with dyslexia see things backwards.
Truth #3: Dyslexia is not a vision problem. It has to do with how the brain makes sense of what is seen. Click here to learn more about visual processing.

Myth #4: People with dyslexia are lazy and should try harder.
Truth #4: Kids with dyslexia learn differently. When they are asked to learn in a way that does not work well for them, it can take more time.

Finding Multisensory Remedial Tools for Kids with Dyslexia:

If you are looking for fun, creative, and multisensory remedial materials, lessons, and games created for learners with dyslexia, CLICK HERE.
If you would like a free copy of these images, CLICK HERE.
Perhaps you would like some free sample activities that can help students with dyslexia - CLICK HERE

Are You Unsure Where to Begin?

There are many different types of dyslexia because there are numerous cognitive processing weaknesses that can lead to this diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to discover and understand each dyslexic student's unique pattern of processing deficits so that the best intervention can be defined.

Three of the most commonly defined subtypes of dyslexia include auditory phonological, visual perceptual, and rapid automatic naming.

Continue Your Journey

At Good Sensory Learning, you'll find engaging, multisensory resources designed to help struggling learners build stronger reading, writing, executive functioning, and cognitive skills. Whether you're a parent, educator, tutor, or educational therapist, our resources are designed to make intervention more targeted, effective, and enjoyable.

Popular Dyslexia Resources

🧠 Writing Resources

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📚 Reading & Spelling Lessons

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🧩 Educational Games

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⭐️ Cognitive Remediation Resources

Strengthen the underlying cognitive skills that support reading and learning.

Cheers, Erica

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator, and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning. She is also the director of Learning to Learn and Learning Specialist Courses.