Dyslexia

What is Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference that primarily affects reading and spelling. It’s not related to intelligence many people with dyslexia are very bright and creative but they may struggle with matching letters to sounds, decoding words, and reading fluently.

Dyslexia often runs in families and is caused by differences in how the brain processes written and spoken language. It can also impact writing, spelling, and, sometimes, speaking and listening skills.

Common Signs of Dyslexia

Difficulty learning letter names and sounds
Trouble sounding out (decoding) words
Slow or effortful reading
Poor spelling
Avoidance of reading or frustration during reading tasks
Challenges with rhyming, sequencing, or recalling words

How can Private Speech Therapist help

Speech therapy can help by focusing on:

Phonological awareness – understanding how sounds work in words (like rhyming, blending, and segmenting sounds)
Sound-letter connections – building the foundation for decoding and spelling
Reading fluency – improving the flow and accuracy of reading
Vocabulary and comprehension – supporting understanding of spoken and written language
Expressive language – helping with organizing thoughts, using rich vocabulary, and building confidence in communication.

How Is Dyslexia Assessed?

Dyslexia isn’t diagnosed through a single test. Instead, it’s identified through a comprehensive evaluation that looks at a range of skills related to reading and language. The goal is to understand a person’s unique learning profile — their strengths, challenges, and how their brain processes written and spoken language.

Here’s what a typical dyslexia evaluation includes:

Background Information

The evaluator will gather information about:

Developmental milestones (speech, language, motor skills)
Academic history and performance
Family history of reading difficulties or dyslexia
Behavioral observations and attention/motivation levels

Phonological Processing

This is the core area affected in dyslexia. The evaluation will assess:

Phonemic awareness – recognizing and manipulating sounds in words (e.g., blending, segmenting)
Rapid naming – how quickly the child can name letters, numbers, or pictures
Phonological memory – how well they can hold sounds in working memory

Decoding and Word Recognition

These tests show how the child reads unfamiliar words:

Sounding out (decoding) unfamiliar or nonsense words
Reading real words accurately and fluently
Recognizing common sight words

Spelling and Writing

Spelling errors are often a key indicator of dyslexia:

Spelling regular and irregular words
Writing sentences or short passages to assess spelling, grammar, and organization

Reading Fluency and Comprehension

Evaluators will look at how quickly and accurately the child reads:

Timed reading passages
Understanding of what they’ve read (literal and inferential questions)

Oral Language and Cognitive Skills

While dyslexia is a language-based difference, a full evaluation often includes:

Vocabulary and sentence understanding
Verbal reasoning and memory
Sometimes, cognitive testing (IQ) to rule out other learning disorders or confirm a specific learning profile

Who Can Assess Dyslexia?

Educational psychologists, neuropsychologists, or school psychologists typically provide the formal diagnosis.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a vital role in identifying underlying language weaknesses that contribute to dyslexia.
In some settings, reading specialists with advanced training may also assess and identify dyslexia, though they may not provide a formal diagnosis.

What Happens After the Assessment?

You’ll receive a detailed report that outlines:

The results of each area tested
Whether your child meets the criteria for dyslexia
Specific recommendations for instruction and support

Early assessment and intervention make a huge difference. If you suspect dyslexia, it’s worth seeking an evaluation — and support from professionals who understand how to help your child thrive.

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IEP Advocacy for Students with Dyslexia

The Benefits of Having a Private Speech Therapist Advocate in IEP Meetings

Having a private speech therapist advocate in the IEP meeting can ensure that your child’s unique communication needs are fully understood and appropriately addressed. A private SLP brings in-depth, up-to-date knowledge of your child’s progress, strengths, and challenges often from working with them more frequently and consistently than school-based providers can. They can help interpret test results, support the development of individualized and evidence-based goals, and advocate for services that are delivered with fidelity by qualified professionals. Most importantly, they act as an informed, supportive voice for your child, helping ensure that the IEP is not just compliant, but truly effective in supporting growth and success across settings.

Let us advocate with you, equip you with the right tools!

With speech therapy coaching, you’ll be equipped with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to help your child with dyslexia thrive not just in school, but in life.

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Empowering Parents: How Speech Therapy Coaching Can Help You

Parents play a powerful role in a child’s journey with dyslexia and with the right support, you don’t have to feel overwhelmed or unsure. A speech language pathologist (SLP) can provide parent coaching that helps you understand your child’s needs and gives you practical tools to support their language and literacy development at home.

Here’s how SLPs help parents feel confident and empowered

Clear Understanding of Dyslexia

Many parents feel unsure about what dyslexia really means. Your SLP can break it down in simple terms:

What dyslexia is (and isn’t)
How it affects reading, spelling, writing, and language
Why your child may struggle with certain tasks

This knowledge alone can be a huge relief — and a powerful first step toward advocacy and support.

Guidance on What Works

Not all reading help is created equal. Your SLP will explain and demonstrate evidence-based strategies, like:

Phonemic awareness games (blending, segmenting sounds)
Multisensory techniques for learning letter-sound relationships
Structured support for vocabulary and comprehension

You’ll learn why these methods work and how to do them in ways that are engaging and manageable at home.

Personalized Support for Your Child

Coaching sessions are customized to your child’s current skills, learning style, and goals. The SLP might model activities, provide feedback as you try them, and help you adapt strategies to your home routine.

Building Confidence For You and Your Child

Parent coaching isn’t just about learning techniques — it’s about helping you feel confident that you can make a difference. You’ll be able to:

Support your child without frustration
Celebrate small wins
Communicate more effectively with teachers and school teams
Advocate for services your child needs with greater clarity

Creating a Supportive Home Environment

SLPs help you set up a home routine that reduces stress and builds literacy skills naturally — whether that’s through shared reading, word games, or simply adjusting how instructions are given.