\Why Early Detection Matters

Dyslexia affects as many as 1 in 5 children, yet many families don’t realize the signs until their child begins to fall behind in school. Early identification is one of the most powerful tools we have for helping struggling readers succeed. In Calgary, more families are seeking dyslexia tutoring, structured literacy programs, and multisensory reading intervention because the sooner a child receives targeted support, the faster they can build confidence and essential reading skills.

Whether your child has been struggling for months or just recently started showing signs of difficulty, this guide will help you understand what’s typical, what’s not, and when to consider professional reading support — especially structured literacy tutoring or dyslexia intervention offered through programs like the DOBI Reading Program in Calgary.

1. Difficulty Connecting Letters to Their Sounds

One of the most well-known indicators of dyslexia is trouble associating letters with their sounds. This is called phonological processing, and it’s the foundation of decoding.

A child may:

• struggle to identify beginning or ending sounds

• confuse similar sounds (e.g., /m/ and /n/)

• guess words instead of sounding them out

This is more than a typical learning delay — it’s a hallmark sign of dyslexia.

Why it matters:Structured literacy tutoring is highly effective for children with phonological weaknesses because it teaches sounds explicitly and systematically.

2. Slow, Difficult, or Avoidant Reading

If reading feels like a chore for your child, it might not be because they dislike books — it may be because reading is unusually difficult for them.

Common behaviors include:

• reading very slowly

• skipping lines or losing their place

• avoiding reading aloud

• feeling tired after just a few minutes of reading

Children with dyslexia often put enormous effort into reading, making it mentally exhausting.

3. Trouble Spelling Even Simple Words

Spelling difficulties are often even more pronounced than reading difficulties.

Children with dyslexia may:

• spell the same word differently within a paragraph

• leave out sounds (“frnd” for “friend”)

• reverse letters (b/d, p/q)

• mix up vowel sounds

Even strong memorization skills cannot overcome underlying decoding weaknesses. This is why traditional spelling lists rarely help dyslexic learners.

4. Difficulty Remembering Sequences or Steps

Dyslexia is not only about reading — it affects language processing more broadly.

Your child may struggle with:

• days of the week

• months of the year

• multi-step instructions

• number sequences

These challenges stem from weaknesses in working memory, a common characteristic of dyslexia.

5. Mixing Up Words or Using the Wrong Words in Sentences

Language retrieval can be harder for dyslexic learners. They may say:

• “pacific” instead of “specific”

• “animal” instead of “aminal”

• “hostipal” instead of “hospital”

This is not laziness or carelessness — it reflects difficulty organizing sounds in the brain.

6. Trouble Rhyming

Rhyming requires hearing and manipulating sounds — a skill called phonological awareness. Children with dyslexia often struggle with:

• recognizing rhymes

• generating rhyming words

• clapping syllables

• breaking words into sounds

This is one of the earliest indicators detectable as young as preschool.

7. Reading Is Not Improving, Even With Extra Practice

If you’ve tried home reading programs, school interventions, or extra practice and your child still struggles, this is a strong sign that your child needs targeted dyslexia tutoring rather than general reading help.

Conventional reading methods often don’t work for dyslexic learners because they rely on memorization and guessing strategies rather than structured decoding.

8. Low Confidence or Frustration With School

Many dyslexic learners experience:

• anxiety during reading activities

• frustration when writing

• overwhelm during homework

• reluctance to attend school

Reading struggles impact emotional well-being, not just academics.

9. Strong Thinking Skills — but Weak Reading Skills

This is one of the clearest signs of dyslexia.

Dyslexic children are often:

• highly creative

• excellent problem solvers

• great conversationalists

• advanced in hands-on or visual learning

… yet still struggle significantly with reading.

This mismatch between intelligence and literacy skills often leads parents to think, “Something doesn’t add up.”

10. Family History of Reading Difficulties

Dyslexia is highly hereditary. If a parent, sibling, aunt, or grandparent struggled with reading, writing, or spelling, there is a strong chance your child may have inherited similar challenges.

When to Seek Help: The Power of Early Structured Literacy Tutoring

If your child shows several of the signs above, it’s time to consider a structured literacy or dyslexia-focused tutoring program — not more guessing strategies, leveled readers, or sight word drills.

Why structured literacy works:

• it teaches skills in a clear, step-by-step way

• it reinforces learning through multisensory instruction

• it builds decoding and encoding skills systematically

• it is the recommended approach for dyslexia (IDA, 2024)

This is why dyslexia tutoring in Calgary — specifically using structured literacy — is growing rapidly in demand.

How DOBI Reading Program Helps Dyslexic Learners in Calgary

At DOBI Reading Program, we specialize in:

• one-on-one dyslexia tutoring

• structured literacy instruction

• multisensory reading intervention

• support for reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension

• helping Calgary families get clarity and confidence

Our Calgary center offers individualized lessons using research-backed methods designed for children with dyslexia, ADHD, phonological processing challenges, and other learning differences.

Early support can change a child’s life — and it is never too late to begin.