He has been stumbling over the same words for weeks. He reads slowly, hesitates, guesses rather than decodes. The other children in his class seem to be moving faster. The teacher may already have mentioned a few concerns. And you, as a parent, keep asking yourself the same question: is this normal, or is my child dyslexic?

The answer is never simple — and that is normal. The line between a temporary delay and a lasting disorder is not always obvious to the naked eye. This article gives you the keys to understand the difference, spot the warning signs, and know when a speech therapy assessment is necessary.

 

Reading delay vs dyslexia: what is the difference?

This is the first confusion to clear up. All dyslexic children have difficulties with reading — but not all children who struggle to read are dyslexic. The distinction is fundamental, because it entirely determines how to support the child.

A simple delay: a temporary lag

A simple reading delay means a child who is progressing more slowly than the class average, but whose difficulties fade with educational support, time and practice. The causes can be many: slower neurological maturation, an unstimulating environment at home, absenteeism, little exposure to books, temporary school anxiety, a change of school…

In this case, a little targeted support is generally enough to get the child back on track. Progress is made, even if it is slower.

Dyslexia: a lasting neurological disorder

Dyslexia, on the other hand, is not a delay. It is a specific and lasting learning disorder affecting reading, of neurological origin. It affects around 5 to 10% of school-age children. Certain areas of the brain responsible for processing written language work differently — the child cannot “close” this gap with willpower or extra work alone.

Dyslexia does not affect intelligence. Many dyslexic children are very quick verbally, creative, excellent at maths. It is precisely this gap between their oral abilities and their written performance that is one of the first warning signs.

There are several types of dyslexia:

  • Phonological dyslexia: difficulty breaking words down into sounds (poor phonological awareness). This is the most common form.
  • Surface dyslexia: the child decodes letter by letter but does not automate the recognition of whole words.
  • Mixed dyslexia: a combination of the two previous forms.

Only a speech therapy assessment can determine which one is involved — which is essential to guide therapy.

Book a speech therapy assessment for your child

Dyslexia assessment available within a few days · State-certified speech therapists · Report recognised for PAP & MDPH

 

When can dyslexia be diagnosed?

This is one of the most frequent questions from parents — and a major source of frustration. Dyslexia can only be diagnosed with certainty from the end of CE1 (the second year of primary school), that is, after about two years of formal reading instruction. This is the time needed to distinguish a temporary learning delay from a lasting disorder.

In practice: a child who starts learning to read in CP (the first year of primary school) can be diagnosed as dyslexic from CE2 onwards, provided they show a reading delay of more than 18 months compared with their age group, and that this delay persists despite appropriate educational support.

⚠️ This does not mean you should wait until CE2 to act. Warning signs appear as early as nursery school (maternelle) and CP — and they should trigger active monitoring, even if a formal diagnosis is not yet possible.

 

The warning signs: what should worry you

Here are the signs, by age, that should prompt you to consult or to keep a close eye on things.

In nursery school (3-5 years): early signs

  • Difficulty reproducing sounds, recognising rhymes, breaking words into syllables
  • Limited vocabulary compared with children of the same age
  • Difficulty memorising nursery rhymes or songs
  • Little interest in books, stories, playing with sounds
  • A family history of dyslexia (the risk is 4 to 8 times higher if a parent is dyslexic)

In CP and CE1 (6-7 years): warning signs

  • Slow and unstable learning of letter-sound correspondence
  • Frequent confusion between letters that look similar (b/d, p/q, m/n) or sound similar (f/v, s/z)
  • Reading syllable by syllable without fluency, even with words already encountered
  • Quickly forgetting words learnt — a word read correctly yesterday is not recognised today
  • Phonetic spelling: the child writes what they hear without respecting spelling (writing “oizo” for “oiseau”, the French word for bird)
  • Intense fatigue after reading exercises, meltdowns or refusals linked to homework

In CE2 and beyond (8 years and over): persistent signs

  • Reading remains laborious, choppy, very slow — even with simple texts
  • Very unstable spelling: the same word is written differently from one line to the next
  • A large gap between oral performance (understanding, expression, reasoning) and written performance
  • Avoiding reading activities (refusing to read aloud, making excuses not to do homework)
  • Fragile self-esteem: the child says they are “useless”, that they do not understand why it is so hard for them

⚠️ A single sign is not enough to draw a conclusion. It is the persistence of the difficulties over time, despite effort and support, that is the real indicator.

 

What does NOT prove dyslexia

A few important clarifications, because many parents worry unnecessarily:

  • Confusing “b” and “d” in CP is perfectly normal — most children do it at this age. It is when this confusion persists in CE1-CE2 that you should be alert.
  • Making a lot of spelling mistakes is not always a sign of dyslexia. It may be due to a separate dysorthographia, a delay, or a lack of practice.
  • Not liking reading is not a disorder. Some children simply prefer other activities — the question is whether the real difficulty or the dislike comes from hidden distress.
  • Reading slowly in CP is normal. Reading speed becomes automatic gradually — it is its abnormal persistence in CE1 and beyond that raises questions.

Only a qualified professional can make a diagnosis. No online test, no list of symptoms can replace a speech therapy assessment.

Book a speech therapy assessment for your child

Dyslexia assessment available within a few days · State-certified speech therapists · Report recognised for PAP & MDPH

 

When should you see a speech therapist?

The rule is simple: do not wait. If you notice several of the warning signs listed above, or if the teacher has expressed concerns after six months of persistent difficulties despite educational support in class, it is time to consult.

You do not need to be sure your child is dyslexic to make an appointment. The role of the speech therapy assessment is precisely to establish this diagnosis — or to rule it out. Either way, you leave with a clear answer and an action plan.

In practice, it is recommended to consult:

  • As early as nursery school, if there is a family history of dyslexia and early signs are present
  • At the end of CP or the start of CE1, if reading is not taking off despite several weeks of intensive work
  • At any point during schooling, if the difficulties persist and the gap between the child and their class is widening

The waiting list for a speech therapist in an office can reach 12 to 18 months. If you are in a hurry — especially when a PAP (personalised support plan) or school adjustments are coming up — an online speech therapy assessment lets you get an appointment within just a few days, with a report recognised by the French national education system.

 

What a speech therapy assessment for dyslexia includes

The speech therapy assessment for suspected dyslexia is a complete, standardised evaluation. It generally includes:

  • An initial interview with the parents (case history): language development history, school background, family history
  • Reading tests (speed, accuracy, decoding of regular and irregular words, pseudowords)
  • Spelling and writing tests
  • Phonological awareness tasks (the ability to manipulate the sounds of language)
  • An assessment of short-term phonological memory
  • Oral language tasks if necessary

At the end of the assessment, the speech therapist provides a detailed written report with the scores, a diagnosis if the criteria are met, and precise recommendations for school adjustments and therapy. This document is valid for PAP, MDPH and exam extra-time applications.

 

FAQ — Dyslexia and speech therapy assessment

My child is in CP: is it too early to consult?

No. A screening assessment can be carried out from CP onwards to evaluate phonological awareness and oral language skills — reliable predictors of dyslexia. This assessment will not yet give a formal diagnosis, but it makes it possible to put preventive support in place from the outset, which makes all the difference later on.

Can dyslexia be cured?

Dyslexia cannot be cured in the medical sense of the term — it is a permanent neurological difference. But with appropriate and early speech therapy, a dyslexic child can make considerable progress, develop effective compensation strategies and fully succeed at school, and then in their professional life. Many dyslexic adults who received support early no longer have significant functional difficulties in adulthood.

Is dyslexia hereditary?

Yes, partly. Genetic research shows that the risk of dyslexia is four to eight times higher in a child whose parent or sibling is dyslexic. If you yourself have been diagnosed with dyslexia, it is recommended to be particularly alert to early signs from nursery school onwards.

Can dyslexia be confused with a sight or hearing problem?

Yes, which is why, when dyslexia is suspected, the speech therapist may recommend an orthoptic assessment (vision) and an audiogram (hearing) to rule out these causes before diagnosing dyslexia. These tests are often carried out in addition to the speech therapy assessment, never instead of it.

 

Conclusion: do not let doubt linger too long

A child who struggles to read is suffering — even if they do not always say so. They see the others moving ahead, they feel the gap widening, they wear themselves out making efforts that others do not have to make. Every month without an answer is another month of silent suffering and mounting delay.

If you have any doubt, have an assessment done. Whether it confirms or rules out dyslexia, you will leave with an answer — and an action plan. That is always better than waiting.

Book a speech therapy assessment for your child

Dyslexia assessment available within a few days · State-certified speech therapists · Report recognised for PAP & MDPH