4. Before school starts, dyslexia may not be obvious. When bright students continue to make the same mistakes over several days, and they can’t seem to make a connection between sounds and letters, a red flag often goes up for teachers. Nelson emphasizes that teachers have a very important role because they’re on the front lines when it comes to identifying dyslexia. She says teachers should follow their gut when it comes to screening students for dyslexia. When you see them struggling to remember sound-symbol combinations, Nelson advises, it’s time to take action. Children are generally diagnosed when they learn to read, in kindergarten or first grade, but if you suspect dyslexia in older students, it’s still a good idea to request assessment since the condition sometimes isn’t identified until much later, and early identification and treatment can make a big difference.