post
BLOG AND NEWS

4 Signs of Reading Difficulty

Aug 15, 2019
 
 

It’s only natural for parents to wonder how a child’s reading stacks up next to the child’s peers. This is especially the case when there’s an older sibling or friend in the picture who seems to breeze through the reading process. It is not always clear whether a child has a weakness that needs to be helped, or if reading simply hasn’t yet “clicked.”

 

Students might avoid reading, or say they “are bad” at it, or even that they dislike it. These concerns could be related to a true reading difficulty, and there are specific reading behaviors that every parent can watch for. Check out the following 4 signs that reveal when a student needs reading help.

 

If you’re not certain about one of these, have your child read grade-level text aloud to you.

 

1. Sounding out words is difficult

Some students have difficulty sounding out new words—even those words that “play fair.” They might add or omit sounds or syllables, or read sounds out of order. For example, the word stream comes out as “steam,” or they read grater as “garter” or “grate.

 

2. Difficulty learning and retaining sight words

Many common words “don’t play fair” (such as find and eye and thought), so recognizing them is the only way to read them correctly. And, because these words are common, they should be recognized quickly, leading to fluent paragraph reading. A student who has difficulty may attempt to sound out common words that they’d learned already, reading people as “pee/oh/plee,” for example. Students may also do a lot of guessing (e.g., reading people as “purple”).

 

3. Slow and laborious passage reading

Some students may be able to sound out words but can’t put it all together on the page. These readers get mired down in sounding out every word, and they may not recognize the same word when they encounter it in the next paragraph.

 

Slow decoding interferes with reading comprehension; by the time readers get to the end of a passage, they have lost the big picture, or meaning. This can be especially frustrating for students who are curious and love learning.

 

4. Poor spelling

Some students have difficulty identifying all of the needed phonemes (optnrty for opportunity); and, some students can spell phonetically but cannot retain spelling patterns (opertunity for opportunity).

 

Reading Help at Lindamood-Bell

For many students, a cause of reading difficulties is weak symbol imagery—the ability to visualize letters in your mind’s eye. This connection of imagery and language is necessary for sounding out new words, and for quickly recognizing letters and common words. Students who read fluently and self-correct their errors have strong symbol imagery. Learn more about symbol imagery and solutions for reading difficulties here.

 

A child who seems to have trouble reading could be behind, or may, in fact, be developmentally on-target for his or her age and grade. Regardless, if you observe signs of a reading difficulty, you need to find out why. A Learning Ability Evaluation uncovers the strengths and weaknesses that affect learning. While some students come to us with a previous diagnosis, such as dyslexia, many seek our help to enhance their skills or to just make learning easier—and we do!

 

In this video, a Lindamood-Bell instructor describes her own daughter’s journey in learning to read to her potential. She discusses the early signs of reading difficulty, the Learning Ability Evaluation process, and her daughter’s experience receiving intensive reading instruction at the learning center.

 

 

Contact us to discuss your child’s reading and for information about our Learning Ability Evaluation, the first steps in teaching students to read to their potential: 800-300-1818.

Connect with us
Diagnosed with dyslexia in fifth grade, Miss Massachusetts 2024, Kiersten Khoury, first came to Lindamood-Bell as a student. Today, she’s using her platform to advocate for literacy and inspire others on their reading journey. Learn more at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbelllofficial.

✨ Imagine what your student could achieve with Lindamood-Bell! Discover our unique, sensory-cognitive approach and get started today. Special offer through September: Apply the cost of your evaluation to instruction! 💡 Plus, online students may qualify for 20% off their first week. Don’t miss out! ⏳Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
.
.
.
#lindamoodbell #testimonial #dyslexia
🎙️ New Podcast Episode Alert! 🎙️
In this episode, Dr. Pasternack discusses the role of tiered intervention in preventing unnecessary referrals, the importance of teacher preparation and professional development, and the necessary components of effective literacy instruction. 
👂Listen now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
.
.
.
#lindamoodbell #podcast #scienceofreading
Attention Educators! Join us this October in San Luis Obispo, California, for in-person Lindamood-Bell Workshops! 🌟
 
Discover evidence-based programs proven to help students with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. Our approach, grounded in the cognitive science of learning, aligns with the science of reading and structured literacy.
 
📅 Register by 9/30/24 and enjoy a $100 discount on any workshop!
Use code: back2school100 at checkout.
 
✨Register today! ✨Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🚀 Unlock Your Child’s Potential with Lindamood-Bell Academy! 📚

Our unique sensory-cognitive approach helps students learn to their potential. We tailor learning to meet your child’s unique needs, in person or live online. Watch your child soar academically and build confidence like never before.

🌟Special Offer: Enroll now and enjoy 15% off a month of tuition!

Don’t miss this opportunity—visit our website for more details and start the journey toward success! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
.
.
.
#lindamoodbell #lindamoodbellacademy #testimonial
📚 Join Us for a Special Live Parent Forum!
🗓️ Wednesday, September 25
🕖  10 AM PDT/1 PM EDT/6 PM BST

📍This Zoom event will also stream live on Facebook
 
Emmy’s mom, Alyson, will share how Lindamood-Bell’s online instruction helped her energetic kindergartener catch up in reading and spelling. Lindamood-Bell’s Director of Research and Development, Paul Worthington, will be on hand to review how student gains from online instruction are equivalent to gains from in-person instruction. ✨ Don’t miss this inspiring story! Register now. ✨ Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
📚 Tips for Students with ADHD
Attention challenges don’t always exist in isolation. Students with ADHD often face additional challenges with literacy and learning. At Lindamood-Bell, we provide personalized instruction that addresses the root causes of these difficulties.
✨ Special offer through September: Apply the cost of your evaluation to instruction! Plus, online students may be eligible for 20% off their first week.
💡 Discover more strategies and tips in our latest blog post! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Lindamood-Bell provides tailored instruction for students of all ages and abilities in reading, comprehension, and math.
🌟 Customized one-to-one sessions
🧑‍🏫 Available both in-person and online
📈 Effective for students with learning challenges, such as dyslexia, autism, and ADHD

👉 Help your child build confidence and achieve academic success. Discover more and get started today!

Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
.
.
.
#lindamoodbell #autism #autistic #testimonial
Lindamood-Bell workshops prepare teachers to use evidence-based programs proven to help students with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. Our approach, grounded in the cognitive science of learning, aligns with the science of reading and structured literacy.
 
📅 Register by 9/30/24 and enjoy a $100 discount on any workshop!
Use code: back2school100 at checkout.
 
Learn more and get started today!  Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
📚 Our Newton Learning Center recently welcomed Miss Massachusetts 2024, Kiersten Khoury, a former Lindamood-Bell student and passionate literacy advocate. Her inspiring journey with dyslexia made a lasting impression on our students.
Kiersten’s visit kicked off a book drive, a community initiative to foster a love of reading by collecting new children’s books for local literacy programs.
Visit our website to learn more and hear Kiersten’s incredible story—it’s sure to inspire learners of all ages! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
We’re honored to be part of your journey, Kiersten, and can’t wait to cheer you on as you continue to Miss America! 👑🎉
Students of all ages and abilities thrive at Lindamood-Bell Academy! 🎓✨

We tailor learning to meet your child’s unique needs with proven, evidence-based instruction, in person or live online. Watch your child soar academically and build confidence like never before.

🌟Special Offer: Enroll now and enjoy 15% off a month of tuition!

Don’t miss this opportunity—visit our website for more details and start the journey toward success! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
.
.
.
#lindamoodbell #lindamoodbellacademy #testimonial
📚 Educators, Let's Partner for Success!
Looking to elevate your next teacher inservice? Partner with us and receive complimentary follow-up support all year long! 🌟
Our approach, grounded in the cognitive science of learning, aligns with the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy. It’s proven effective for all students—early learners, struggling readers, and those with dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism, and more.
🔍 Get the details and request a quote for your school or district today! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🎧 New Podcast Episode! 🎧
Shelly, a Lindamood-Bell Academy parent, shares how she found the perfect school for her daughter, Brooklyn, who has dyslexia. Discover how our supportive environment helped Brooklyn thrive academically while nurturing her curiosity. ✨
Listen now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
.
.
.
#LindamoodBell #LindamoodBellAcademy #podcast #dyslexia #testimonial
Lindamood-Bell offers personalized instruction in reading, comprehension, and math for learners of all ages and abilities. Our unique sensory-cognitive approach is proven effective for everyone, including students with dyslexia, autism, and ADHD.

👉 Discover how your child can achieve remarkable results, whether they attend in person or live online! Visit our website to learn more. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
.
.
.
#lindamoodbell #dyslexia #testimonial
Attention Educators! Join us this October in San Luis Obispo, California, for in-person Lindamood-Bell Workshops! 🌟
 
Discover evidence-based programs proven to help students with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. Our approach, grounded in the cognitive science of learning, aligns with the science of reading and structured literacy.
 
Whether you're a teacher, administrator, or private specialist, our workshops in reading, comprehension, and math are tailored to your needs. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your skills! ✨Register today! ✨
 
Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Request Information

Request Information

When you complete our form, we'll send you to our digital information packet and reach out to you shortly.
You may also call us at

* required

Schedule a Learning
Ability Evaluation

Please fill out the form and we will be in touch to schedule an evaluation.

* required