Learning to read can feel like magic! But what if it doesn’t happen as easily as expected?
Maybe you’ve read to your child since they were a baby, given them good instruction, and seen them work hard—yet they still struggle with reading. As a parent or teacher, you may start to wonder if your child has dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a brain-based challenge, having difficulty with processing language. It’s not about low intelligence or lack of effort.
Dyslexia makes it harder to break words down into sounds, which can make reading, spelling, and recognizing words difficult. Signs of dyslexia include slow reading, trouble with spelling, and problems sounding out words. Dyslexia can be mild, moderate, or severe, and it often runs in families.
With the right help, your child with dyslexia can succeed!
Recently, people have been using the terms “Dyslexia” and “Specific Learning Disorder in Reading” interchangeably. Psychologists use the newer, official term “Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) in Reading” in reports.
SLD is a broader term that covers many reading-related challenges. Dyslexia is a more specific label commonly used by parents, teachers, and researchers.
Support Students with Dyslexia
1. Get an Assessment
If you think your child may have dyslexia, it’s a good idea to get a professional assessment. This will help you understand which areas of reading or writing are causing the trouble. A psycho-educational assessment may find that your child has a “specific learning disorder in reading.” It can also identify specific areas of difficulty, like:
- Word Decoding: Breaking words into sounds.
- Reading Fluency: Reading smoothly and quickly.
- Reading Comprehension: Understanding what they read.
Once you know your child’s specific challenges, you can find the right help to improve their reading and writing skills.
2. Structured Literacy
The structured literacy approach is very effective for students with dyslexia and researched through the Science of Reading. This method teaches language structure in a clear, step-by-step way. It focuses on breaking down reading and writing into smaller parts, such as sounds, letter patterns, and word parts (like prefixes and suffixes). By intentionally teaching these skills, children with dyslexia can learn to break down and understand words.
3. Multi-Sensory Learning
Using more than one sense helps reinforce learning. For example, using colored letters, tactile materials, or movement activities can help make reading easier. A multi-sensory approach creates a rich learning experience that can help students understand and remember better. By using different styles of learning, teachers can help students with dyslexia make progress and feel more confident.
4. Assistive Technology
Tools like text-to-speech software, audiobooks, and speech recognition programs can also be very helpful. These tools let students access information without having to read every word, which can help them keep up with their studies and feel more independent.
5. Targeted Intervention
Students with dyslexia often need specific help to make connections between sounds and letters. This helps them “decode” words, making it easier to understand what they’re reading. Programs like NILD Educational Therapy® can provide targeted support, improving their reading as well as helping them with skills like memory, attention, and language.
6. Find Support
Supporting a child with dyslexia means creating an understanding and inclusive environment, both at home and at school. Educators, parents, and peers can all help by showing patience, offering encouragement, and embracing different learning styles.
Parents can receive support from an educational consultant or in a community of parents supporting one another.
By using proven methods and tools, we can empower children with dyslexia and other reading challenges to thrive. The brain can change!
