--- title: 'Dyslexia in high school: 4 signs you might see' description: What does dyslexia look like in high school? See some of the signs of dyslexia or reading disability in teens. slug: dyslexia-in-high-school author: The Understood Team reviewer: Sheldon H. Horowitz, EdD published: '2019-10-09T17:20:15.444Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/6V18lSn3ak0mU1Hh5qalFC/8ef6da806b8979155fa92f1b005ad71a/G640139918.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/dyslexia-in-high-school lang: en --- # Dyslexia in high school: 4 signs you might see Some teens who seem awkward or unmotivated may actually be struggling with [dyslexia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-dyslexia). It can affect a bunch of skills, from reading to understanding puns or driving a car. Here are some of the [signs of dyslexia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/checklist-signs-of-dyslexia-at-different-ages) in high school. ## 1. Trouble expressing ideas Dyslexia can make it [hard to find the right words](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/dyslexia-in-high-school), develop ideas, and communicate them in a logical, organized way. Teens with dyslexia might stammer a lot or have trouble finding the right word to say. At school, this can look like difficulty expressing ideas — like making a point or supporting an argument. ## 2. Struggling with foreign language The same issues that make it hard for kids with dyslexia to read and write in their native language make it even [harder to learn a foreign language](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/learning-a-foreign-language-with-dyslexia). High-schoolers with dyslexia might dread the school’s foreign language requirement and feel doomed by it. Teens with dyslexia may guess at what foreign words mean and how they’re pronounced. ## 3. Not getting the joke Dyslexia can affect the ability to process all kinds of language. This makes it hard to understand humor and other tricky language. Teens with dyslexia might need someone to explain punch lines, especially when there are puns or hidden meanings. ## 4. Trouble navigating Teens with dyslexia often struggle with spatial concepts and related things like driving and navigation. They might still [confuse left and right](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/why-kids-have-trouble-learning-left-from-right). At school, that can look like trouble reading charts and graphs. See more [ways dyslexia can affect daily life](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-child-with-dyslexia). And find out [what to do if you think your child might have dyslexia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/does-my-child-have-dyslexia). --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [Dyslexia in middle school: 4 signs you might see](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/dyslexia-in-middle-school) - Its not uncommon to start noticing signs of dyslexia in middle school. Workloads increase, which makes it hard for kids to hide their trouble with reading. Heres what dyslexia can look like in middle school. 1. Reading very slowly Sounding out or decoding words is really hard with dyslexia. And this - [Dyslexia in grade school: 4 signs you might see](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/dyslexia-in-grade-school-4-signs-you-might-see) - Signs of dyslexia get easier to spot in grade school. Thats because kids start doing more reading and writing. Heres what you might see in your child. 1. Trouble sounding out new words Dyslexia makes it hard for kids to sound out or decode words. Your child might still not be sure which letters mak - [Dyscalculia in high school: 4 signs you might see](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/dyscalculia-in-high-school-4-signs-you-might-see) - In high school, you may start noticing dyscalculia outside of math class, especially if your teen is learning to drive. Here are four signs of dyscalculia you might see in high school. 1. Freezing when asked math-related questions Kids with dyscalculia tend to have a hard time with basic math facts --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/dyslexia-in-high-school#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/dyslexia-in-high-school","description":"What does dyslexia look like in high school? 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