Look for phonological problems. The term “phonics” refers to the pairing of letters and their sounds. If your child consistently struggles to remember which sounds go with specific letters, he may have trouble reading. If he has trouble pronouncing certain sounds, he is also at risk for reading problems. Sometimes weak phonics skills are caused by an auditory processing problem, so they need to be checked out.
Notice visual recognition problems. Even children with good phonics skills may have trouble reading. For example, does your child have trouble identifying letters consistently? Does he recognize a word on one page, only to stare blankly at the same word on the next page? Does he have trouble remembering how to write his name or does he reverse letters and numbers when he’s writing? Any of these symptoms could be a clue to a visual processing problem causing reading deficits.
Be aware of comprehension problems. Say your child is a spelling whiz, and can sound out words just fine, but then has no clue what the story means. Children with good phonics skills may not show signs of a reading comprehension disorder until later grades. This is because they can easily read the simple words in books written for young children. As books become longer, with more complicated stories, kids with comprehension problems begin to fall behind. If your child can read the words but can’t grasp the meaning, you need to have her checked.
Seek help. Any of the above symptoms, if they interfere with your child’s reading, could indicate an underlying reading disorder. Start by asking your child’s teacher if the problems are common for kids of your child’s age. If the teacher also has concerns, ask for testing by a learning disabilities specialist.