AS part of Dyslexia Awareness Week, the Salisbury Dyslexia Association wants to make sure families with children who might have the condition aware of the services available to them.

The Salisbury branch, which was formed 25 years ago, has a helpline parents can call if they think their child might be dyslexic. The association can then assess the child and even provide teachers who give individual lessons to dyslexic children.

Patricia Cave-Smith, chairman of the association, said: “The really important thing is that you have got to get it early.”

She said early diagnosis is essential and should be identified by the age of seven, but many students are not being recognised as having a specific difficulty until they get to university or college.

Dyslexia tends to run in families, so one of the earliest indications is if a parent struggled at school and still finds writing and spelling difficult. In pre-school children, signs include late talking and slowness in using naming words, difficulty in keeping simple rhythm and slowness in dressing and fastening buttons.

She said other signs include difficulty remembering their birthday or what day it is, difficulty learning to tell the time and an inability to blend letters together. They will often reverse letters and numbers and cannot identify left and right.

Mrs Cave-Smith said when dyslexia goes untreated there are limitations in specific aspects of speech, reading, spelling, writing and numeracy, which may lead to secondary behavioural problems.

Anyone who thinks their child might have dyslexia can contact the helpline on 01722 324260.