Dyslexia Screening in Grades K-2

Why Screen for Dyslexia in Grades K–2?A Guide for Families

Early elementary school is a crucial time in your child’s reading development. Screening for dyslexia in kindergarten through second grade can make a powerful difference in your child’s academic success and confidence. 

What Is Dyslexia Screening?

Dyslexia screening is a quick, simple process used to identify children who may be at risk for reading difficulties. I ask both the parents and the teacher to fill out a quick survey, then meet with the student for about 15 minutes to complete a few screening activities.   This process does not diagnose dyslexia, but it helps determine whether a child may need extra support or is a candidate for further evaluation.

Why Screen in the Primary Grades?

1.  Identify Early Warning Signs

Children as young as kindergarten can show signs of dyslexia risk, such as difficulty learning letter sounds or decoding simple words. Screening helps catch these signs early, before reading struggles grow.

2. Prevent the Reading Achievement Gap

A significant gap in reading skills can appear as early as first grade. The longer we wait, the harder it becomes to close that gap. Early screening helps children stay on track from the start.

3. Take Advantage of Brain Plasticity

Young brains are especially adaptable. Early intervention can actually help “rewire” how the brain processes language. Waiting until later grades can make intervention much more difficult—by fourth grade, it can take up to four times longer to achieve the same progress.

4. Support Emotional Well-Being

Struggling to read can affect a child’s confidence. Without support, children may begin to feel like they are “not smart,” especially when reading aloud in front of peers. Early identification helps prevent frustration and builds confidence.

5. Improve Long-Term Outcomes

Early intervention can prevent long-term academic challenges and support better outcomes in school and beyond, including higher graduation rates and stronger future opportunities.

How do I know if my child should be screened? 

Because children reach developmental milestones at different ages, it can be hard to sort out what is developmental difference and what is learning disability.  During the primary grades many students reverse letters, so that in itself is not a solid indicator.  Things to look for include:

• Trouble recognizing and naming letters of the alphabet 

• Trouble remembering what sounds letters make

• Difficulty recognizing their own name

• Difficulty recognizing or producing rhyming words 

• Trouble sounding out simple words, like “cat”

Dyslexia is highly heritable.  Some statistics show that if one parent is dyslexic, half of the children will be; and if both parents are dyslexic, all of their children will show some signs of dyslexia.  So if either of the child’s parents have dyslexia or experienced struggles learning how to read, they should consider screening for the child.

What Happens After Screening?

If a screening shows your child may be at risk, we’ll talk about what kind of targeted instruction and support will be most helpful and if you should pursue further evaluation.  Early help is the most effective help.

I’m interested in having my child screened for dyslexia.  What should I do?

I’m happy  to talk with you about the symptoms you’re seeing.  I can help you determine if a quick screening, a dyslexia evaluation, or a full neuropsych evaluation will be the best choice for your struggling student.  Phone calls are free, so please reach out if you have any questions!

The Bottom Line

As many as 20% of the students in our classrooms have some level of dyslexia.  Screening early gives your child the best chance to become a confident, successful independent reader. Identifying and addressing challenges now can make a lifelong difference.