Parents can help dyslexic children by being their biggest advocates, working with schools for explicit phonics instruction, using assistive tech like audiobooks and text-to-speech, building resilience and confidence by focusing on strengths, using multi-sensory learning (games, tiles), and providing consistent, patient support with reading and spelling at home.
5 things not to say to your child about dyslexia
There's no known way to correct the underlying brain differences that cause dyslexia. However, early detection and evaluation to determine specific needs and appropriate treatment can improve success. In many cases, treatment can help children become competent readers.
How should a dyslexic child be taught to read? Structured Synthetic Phonics (SSP) is widely regarded as the most successful approach to teaching reading and spelling. It follows the principles of Structured Literacy, research proven by The Science of Reading.
Medication cannot treat dyslexia. The most effective treatment is intensive education intervention that helps the child improve phonemic awareness (the ability to pair letters to sounds and turn sounds into words) and develop reading and writing skills.
Dyslexia results from individual differences in the parts of the brain that enable reading. It tends to run in families. Dyslexia appears to be linked to certain genes that affect how the brain processes reading and language.
The most important thing you can do is to spend time reading aloud with your child. That time spent together can help them as they work on their reading skills. It's also important to remember that dyslexia isn't something that your child has control over. Be patient and supportive.
Read to Students
While dyslexic students may struggle to read independently, they benefit greatly from someone reading to them. While they may be reading below grade level on their own, their listening comprehension is usually equal to or above that of their peers.
There are four types of dyslexia in common those are; Phonological dyslexia, surface dyslexia, rapid naming deficit, and double deficit dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a brain trait, a cognitive style associated with challenges and strengths, and as such, is not something to be cured.
Guided Reading Activities for Children with Dyslexia
The recommended seven hands-on learning strategies that can promote learning and support for struggling readers during literacy instruction include Build the Words, Feel the Words, Whole Body Letters, Five Finger Retell, Sight Word BINGO, Elkonin Boxes, and Word Swat.
In school, we are able to use a test called the Lucid Exact which will look at a range of areas linked to reading, processing and writing. These results can prove useful in understanding whether your child may have a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) like dyslexia.
Kids with dyslexia may feel frustrated or embarrassed, so it's also important to give them plenty of emotional support. Make sure to praise their hard work, celebrate their strengths in other areas, and remind them that dyslexia has nothing to do with their intelligence.
Common Misconceptions about Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a sign of low intelligence: Dyslexia does not impact your child's intelligence in any way. As a matter of fact, many dyslexic students are super intelligent and bursting with talent. The only challenge they have is that their brains process language differently.
Establish a routine
Dyslexic learners may find it difficult to maintain concentration for long periods of time and may get tired quickly, so it's a good idea to create a routine which emphasises 'a little and often' rather than trying to squeeze too much work into a longer session.
Three dimensional thinking and making connections
Many people with dyslexia demonstrate better skills at manipulating 3D objects in their mind. Many of the world's top architects and fashion designers have dyslexia.
No, dyslexia is not a form of ADHD; they are two separate, distinct neurodevelopmental conditions, but they frequently co-occur because they share some overlapping symptoms like inattention, memory issues, and executive function challenges, making accurate diagnosis important for proper treatment. ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder affecting focus, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, while dyslexia is a specific learning disability impacting reading, spelling, and language processing.
The BDA Level 7 Diploma in Dyslexia Assessment and Intervention (AMBDA and AMBDA FE/HE) provides training for individuals who already hold ATS/APS (or equivalent) and have a professional interest in assessment for dyslexia.
Using games is a fun way to help your child develop areas in their learning that they can struggle with. These areas of weakness have an impact on the child's ability to learn and include: working memory (visual and/or auditory), poor ability to order and sequence information (visual and/or auditory) and.
Bill Gates, one of the richest people in the world didn't let his dyslexia hold him back.
High spatial awareness – People with dyslexia can sometimes be much spatially aware than the average person. Many have the ability to manipulate 3D shapes in their minds. They may find it easier to think in images which works well in careers such as architecture, performing arts and design.
Increasing dietary intake of oily fish such as mackerel, salmon, trout or sardines. An omega-3 supplement may help to increase omega-3 levels in the blood as well as increasing overall omega-3 to omega-6 ratio. For vegan and vegetarians, there are many plant based omega 3 supplements available derived from algae.
Apps to Help Your Child Develop a Love of Reading and Writing
Struggling with reading, spelling, writing, and/or mathematics isn't easy. Help them break the long-term goal into small steps along the way. For example, rather than master all the spelling words or the entire multiplication table, start with only three spelling words or the five times table.