Dyslexia and Learning Difficulties in Children: Signs by Age, Assessment and School Support in India

By the Paramount CDC therapy team · Clinically reviewed by Dr. Ojaswita Sharma, BOT, MOT · 22 October 2026

Short answer: Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that makes reading and spelling unusually hard, even though a child has normal intelligence and has been taught well. Signs often show between ages 5 and 7, when reading teaching begins. In India, specific learning disabilities, including dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia, are recognised under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and certified students can get board exam concessions such as extra time and a scribe. Structured, multi-sensory teaching from a special educator helps most children learn to read well.

Signs of dyslexia by age

Dyslexia usually affects every language a child learns. In Hindi, difficulties often show up with matras and conjunct letters. A child who struggles only in English but reads Hindi easily may simply need more English exposure, which an assessment can help clarify.

Other specific learning difficulties

• Dysgraphia: difficulty with handwriting, spacing, spelling and getting ideas onto paper. Our guide to handwriting problems in children covers the motor side.
• Dyscalculia: difficulty understanding numbers, remembering times tables, telling the time, or handling money
• Many children have more than one, and ADHD often occurs alongside learning difficulties.

What dyslexia is not

• Not low intelligence. Many children with dyslexia are bright, verbal and creative.
• Not laziness. Children with dyslexia often work harder than their classmates for weaker results.
• Not an eyesight problem, although an eye test is a sensible first step to rule vision out.
• Not something a child simply grows out of. With the right teaching, though, most children learn to read and write well.

How a learning difficulty is assessed

1. Rule out other causes: a vision and hearing check, and a look at school attendance and teaching history.
2. Educational assessment: reading accuracy and speed, spelling, writing, phonological skills (hearing and working with sounds in words), and maths.
3. Psychological assessment: to understand your child’s thinking abilities and rule out other explanations.
4. A written plan for teaching, home support and school accommodations.

For board exam concessions, CBSE requires a disability certificate from a recognised authority, such as a government hospital or a professional registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India. Concessions should be requested through the school, preferably when the student registers in Class IX or XI. If your child studies under another board, check its current rules with the school.

Board exam concessions (CBSE)

Source: CBSE circular on exemptions and concessions for candidates with disabilities, 2018. Eligibility for each concession depends on the disability category, so confirm the details with your school and the CBSE regional office.

How special education helps

• Structured, step-by-step phonics: teaching how letters and sounds connect, one step at a time, with lots of practice
• Multi-sensory methods: tracing letters in sand, building words with letter tiles, saying sounds aloud while writing
• An individual education plan with clear, measurable goals
• Working with the school on classroom adjustments, such as less copying from the board, oral answers, and extra time
• Building confidence, because many children with learning difficulties have started to believe they are “stupid”

How parents can help at home

• read aloud to your child every day, even after they can read themselves
• use audiobooks so your child keeps learning and enjoying stories
• keep homework sessions short, with breaks
• talk to the class teacher early and share the assessment report
• praise effort and progress, not just marks
• never compare your child with siblings or classmates

Getting help in Jaipur and Sikar

Paramount Child Development Centre offers special education for children at both of its centres, with the same assessment approach and the same team model: our Durgapura centre in Jaipur, and our Silver Jubilee Road centre in Sikar, which also serves families from Jhunjhunu, Neem Ka Thana and the wider Shekhawati region. Choose the centre closer to home; regular therapy is much easier to keep up when the journey is short.

Read more about special education in Jaipur and special education in Sikar. Not sure which therapy your child needs? Start with a child development assessment, available at both centres.

Frequently asked questions

At what age can dyslexia be identified?

Warning signs can appear in preschool, but dyslexia is usually identified once a child has had a year or two of reading teaching, from around age 6 or 7. You don’t need to wait for a label to start support if your child is struggling.

Is dyslexia lifelong?

Yes, dyslexia is a lifelong difference in how the brain processes language. With the right teaching and support, most people with dyslexia learn to read and write well and do well in studies and careers.

Does dyslexia affect Hindi as well as English?

Usually yes, although it may look different. In Hindi, difficulties often show with matras and conjunct letters, while English spelling is often harder because it is less regular.

Can my child get extra time in board exams?

Under CBSE rules, students with a certified specific learning disability can get compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour, a scribe, and other concessions. Apply through the school, ideally when registering in Class IX or XI, with a certificate from a recognised authority.

Does dyslexia mean my child has a low IQ?

No. By definition, dyslexia occurs despite normal intelligence. Many children with dyslexia are strong thinkers and talkers.

Where can my child get a learning assessment and special education in Jaipur or Sikar?

Paramount Child Development Centre offers learning assessments and special education at its Durgapura centre in Jaipur and its Silver Jubilee Road centre in Sikar, working with families and schools. Call or WhatsApp +91 6376 345 510.

This article is for general information and does not replace an individual assessment by a qualified professional. If you are worried about your child’s development, health or safety, please speak to a qualified professional or your paediatrician.