Why Early Dyslexia Identification Can Make a Difference

When a child is finding reading, spelling or written language difficult, it can be hard to know whether they simply need more time or whether something else may be going on. Understanding when dyslexia may be identified can help families know when to ask questions and seek further guidance. Early dyslexia identification can also help build a clearer picture of how a child learns and where they may benefit from additional support.

In the next part of our dyslexia fireside chat series, Speech Pathologists Sophia and Adam discuss when dyslexia may be identified, why some children are diagnosed later than others, and how understanding a child’s learning profile can help families make sense of what they are seeing.

When can dyslexia be diagnosed?

There is no single age at which everyone with dyslexia receives a diagnosis. Dyslexia can be diagnosed across the lifespan, although Adam explains that it is often identified during the school years, when concerns with reading and spelling may become more noticeable.

“Oftentimes we see it getting diagnosed more in the school years, you know, around seven, eight, nine years old when we really start seeing these concerns arise.” – Adam, Speech Pathologist

As children spend more time reading and writing at school, difficulties with literacy may become easier to recognise. However, not every child is identified at the same time.

“There are also some children who kind of fall under the cracks a little bit, and they get diagnosed a bit later.” – Adam, Speech Pathologist

For some children their strong oral language, or memory skills can mask early difficulties, these difficulties becoming clearer as literacy demands increase in the classroom. Some people may not receive a diagnosis until adulthood, as Sophia shares below.

Why early dyslexia identification can be helpful

Identifying dyslexia earlier can help families and educators better understand why a child may be finding some literacy tasks difficult.

It can also help guide conversations about what support may be useful at school, at home and in therapy. This support can look like classroom adjustments, structured literacy support, or ways to keep reading enjoyable at home.

Early identification is not about defining a child by a diagnosis. It is about building an understanding of how they learn best, where they may need support, which strategies may be helpful and helping the child to understand their own strengths.

Every child’s experience is different

While early identification can be valuable, every person’s experience is different. Some people reach adolescence or adulthood before recognising that dyslexia may help explain difficulties they have experienced with literacy. Sophia shares how her own dyslexia diagnosis came in adulthood. Following her work with children with dyslexia, Sophia began to recognise similar traits in herself.

“It wasn’t until I started assessing and working with children with dyslexia that I started to notice some of the traits within myself.” – Sophia, Clinical Operations Manager and Speech Pathologist

That eventually led to seeking an assessment as an adult.

“As an adult, I went and got an assessment and got a diagnosis of dyslexia.” – Sophia, Clinical Operations Manager and Speech Pathologist

Her experience highlights that there is no single age or pathway to identification. For some children, concerns become apparent relatively early. For others, the signs may be recognised later.

Knowing more can help guide support

For parents, ongoing concerns with reading, spelling or written language may be a reason to ask questions and seek further guidance.

A dyslexia or developmental language disorder assessment can help build a clearer understanding of a child’s literacy strengths and support needs, and may help guide practical next steps with families, teachers and therapists.

Early dyslexia identification is ultimately about understanding the individual child and providing support that is practical, meaningful and suited to the way they learn.

If you have questions about your child’s literacy development or whether a dyslexia assessment may be appropriate, contact Allied Kids Therapy to learn more about Speech Pathology and dyslexia assessment services in Melbourne.