Problems learning the letter sounds for reading (decoding) and spelling (encoding) Difficulty in reading single words, such as on flash cards and in lists (decoding) Lack of accuracy and fluency when attempting to read (and decode) Reading slowly with many mistakes Poor spelling Poor visual gestalt / coding (orthographic coding)

Difficulty learning the sounds that letters and letter combinations make Difficulty with basic word decoding (i.e., sounding out unfamiliar words) Slow, labor-intensive reading Difficulty spelling Difficulty recognizing familiar words in new contexts Avoiding activities that involve reading