Dyslexia can begin to reveal itself at a young age, some parents send their children for evaluations as early as four years old. However, it is best to wait until kids are a least six years old and have some formal instruction in reading to seek out formal evaluation.

 

But as soon as a gap between intelligence and reading skills is apparent — and evidence shows it can be seen in first grade — it’s a good idea to get help. Schools sometimes encourage parents to wait until the third grade to see if their child truly needs an intervention, but the earlier intervention is important not only to help kids catch up but to boost their fragile self-image, which is damaged by continuing struggle in school and comparisons with peers.