October is Dyslexia Awareness Month!

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 23:25:06 GMT

1 in 5 students has dyslexia.

Dyslexia Warning Signs: How to Recognize Early Indicators in Your Child

As a parent or educator, noticing learning differences and getting support early can make a huge difference in a child’s reading and academic success. Dyslexia is a common learning difference that affects the way the brain processes language, and early intervention is key. While every child is unique, certain warning signs may indicate dyslexia.

Preschool Warning Signs

Some indicators of dyslexia can appear even before a child begins formal schooling:

Delayed speech development.
Speech delays and mispronunciations beyond what is expected
Difficulty forming sentences
Problems learning letters and sounds.
Struggles to remember the alphabet song.
Doesn't recognize letters of their own name.
Difficulty with rhyming or word games .
Difficulty making rhymes like in The Name Game
Cannot match rhyming words like "cat" and "sat"
Cannot match beginning sounds like "box" and "bat"
Family history of dyslexia or reading difficulties
Dyslexia and reading difficulties often run in families

Kindergarten & Early First Grade Warning Signs

As formal reading and writing instruction begins, dyslexia may become more obvious. This is the best time to take action, before learning gaps become too large. A few months of support in kindergarten and first grade can prevent years of intervention later. Warning signs to be aware of include:

Slow reading or frequent mistakes
Not keeping up with their class when learning letters and sounds
Difficulty blending sounds together to form words
Difficulty reading two and 3-letter words by the end of kindergarten
Difficulty spelling
Does not write the correct letter when given a sound
Has difficulty writing and spelling their first and last name
Does not attempt to sound out and spell words
Trouble with writing and grammar
Has no interest in writing and will often do whatever they can to avoid writing work
Will use simple sentences and words despite having a large oral vocabulary

First & Second Grade Warning Signs

Taking action before the end of second grade is crucial. Often, second grade is the last year students are taught how to read and spell as part of their school day. Students who are not reading at or near grade level by the end of second grade will require special intervention services to close the reading gaps.

Reading difficulties and avoidance
Sounds out every word and struggles to put the sounds together
May read the first letter of a word and guess a word that makes sense, “home” for “house” or “hotel”
Students who struggle with reading will often put up any fight they can to avoid doing it. Behavior issues stemming from homework or going to school can be a warning sign of a learning disability
Difficulty spelling
Struggles to sound out and write phonetically regular words
Difficulty spelling high-frequency words and will write “wuz” for “was”, “wut” for “what”, or “sed” for “said”
Writing and grammar skills are not improving
Writes slowly in simple sentences
Struggles with using basic punctuation and capitalization
Has trouble putting thoughts into written words

Third grade and beyond

Third grade is a “make or break” year in Arkansas for reading, as students who do not score well on standardized tests may be at risk of grade retention. Due to state laws, most students in Arkansas are screened annually for dyslexia in K-2nd grade; however, some cases of dyslexia still go undetected until later. These students are usually very bright and have excellent language skills that allow them to compensate for their reading difficulties. In the later elementary years, warning signs of dyslexia include:

Avoiding reading and writing tasks
Showing frustration or anxiety around reading assignments. Avoids reading out loud
Knowledge and vocabulary skills are not represented in written work
Become overwhelmed by text on a page or longer words
Relies on audiobooks or text-to-speech rather than reading
Will read text but has no understanding of what was read
Difficulty remembering sequences
Struggling with instructions, phone numbers, lists, or multiplication tables

What You Can Do

If you notice any of these warning signs in your child, early assessment and intervention are crucial. A structured literacy program tailored to your child’s needs can dramatically improve reading skills, confidence, and overall academic success.

At Ozark Dyslexia Services, I specialize in identifying and supporting children with dyslexia. Our goal is to empower families with the tools and strategies they need to help their children thrive.

Contact me today to learn more about our evaluation and intervention services.

Dyslexia Intervention in Northwest Arkansas

elissa@ozarkdyslexia.com (Elissa Blabac) — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 22:16:04 GMT

Meet Elissa Blabac

Founder of Ozark Dyslexia Services

Welcome to Ozark Dyslexia Services —I’m so glad you’re here. I'm Elissa Blabac, a dyslexia interventionist and literacy educator serving families in Northwest Arkansas. Whether you're exploring dyslexia tutoring, looking for a structured literacy approach, or simply trying to support your struggling reader, I’d love to share my story with you.

From Parent to Teacher

L ike many parents, my journey into the world of dyslexia began at home. In 2020, during the pandemic, my son was in second grade and had recently been diagnosed with dyslexia. He was receiving school-based therapy when the world shut down.

Like many parents who need support, I turned to the internet. I researched everything I could about how to help a child with dyslexia, and that’s when I found All About Reading, a structured literacy program that is very popular with homeschoolers. For the next year and a half, I homeschooled my son, and by the time he returned to school in fourth grade, he was reading on grade level.

A Career Pivot

In 2022, my son enrolled in a new public charter school that was struggling to hire a dyslexia interventionist. When I asked what they were looking for in a dyslexia interventionist thinking I might know someone, the district director told me they needed someone passionate and committed—the district would handle the training.

I asked, “Could that be me?”

And just like that, my career changed direction. I left a 20-year career as a paralegal and began working in the school as a dyslexia interventionist, helping students from kindergarten through sixth grade improve their reading skills through structured, targeted instruction.

Becoming a Dyslexia Specialist

Driven to learn more, I enrolled in the Master of Science in Literacy and Dyslexia program at the University of Central Arkansas. I'm proud to have passed the KPEERI (Knowledge and Practice Examination for Effective Reading Instruction) and am currently completing the practicum to become a Certified Structured Literacy – Dyslexia Specialist (C-SLDS).

These credentials, grounded in the Science of Reading, have equipped me to provide effective, evidence-based reading intervention to students with dyslexia and other reading challenges.

My Mission

My son is the reason I started this journey, and his success is what fuels my passion today. I teach every student with the same dedication and heart I gave him. I know how overwhelming it can be to navigate dyslexia support, and I’m here to guide families with compassion and clarity. Whether you're looking for a more information about your child's reading progress, Evidenced Based Literacy Instruction (EBLI), or parent coaching to support your child at home, you're in the right place.

Let's Work Together

If you're looking for dyslexia intervention in Northwest Arkansas, personalized reading support, or guidance on how to help your child become a confident reader, I’d love to help.

ozark-dyslexia-services