Dyslexia: understanding reading & spelling differences

It is a myth that people with dyslexia “read backwards.” Spelling can look jumbled because it’s hard to remember which letters stand for which sounds.

Many young readers, with or without dyslexia, mix up letters like b and d simply because they need more practice.

Dyslexia is a problem with processing language, not with the eyes. A hearing and vision check can still be useful to rule out other causes.

Dyslexia happens in people of all backgrounds and intellectual levels. People with dyslexia can be very bright, and many are gifted in areas like art, design, mechanics, music, sales or sports.

Dyslexia is not caused by a lack of desire to learn. With the right teaching methods, students with dyslexia can learn successfully.

Where teachers don’t understand dyslexia, students may be wrongly seen as lazy. A child who is working twice as hard needs support, not blame.

Things families sometimes notice

• Learning to talk later than other children
• Little interest in letters, sounds or saying the alphabet
• Mixing up words that sound alike
• Trouble with rhymes

Things teachers and families sometimes notice

• Avoiding reading, or tummy aches and headaches before homework
• Messy writing with lots of spelling mistakes
• Reading slowly and hesitantly aloud
• Trouble remembering sequences, like days of the week
• Trouble telling the time

Things teens sometimes describe

• Feeling tired after reading
• Needing to reread to understand
• Relying on memory, listening or context instead of reading
• Worry about reading aloud in class

Dyslexia often runs in families and is linked to several genes, not just one.

Things linked to a higher chance

• A birth family member with dyslexia
• Being born early or at a low birth weight
• Exposure to alcohol, nicotine or heavy metals before birth

Dyslexia often happens alongside ADHD, dysgraphia or dyscalculia. Each one needs its own support.

Testing can be done by trained school staff or outside specialists, like school psychologists, clinical psychologists or neuropsychologists. There is no blood test or scan for dyslexia.

An evaluation often checks

• Listening and speaking skills
• Naming letters and numbers quickly
• Picking out sounds in words
• Reading words in lists and in sentences
• Spelling and writing

Hearing and vision may be checked to rule out other causes.

There’s no benefit to a child if extra reading help is delayed for months while testing happens. Early help makes sense, whatever the result.

Getting help earlier increases the chance of success in school and later in life.

Good reading teaching for dyslexia is based on a clear understanding of how language works, including phonics. It goes by many names, such as Structured Literacy, Orton-Gillingham and explicit phonics.

Students with dyslexia often need lots of structured practice and quick, helpful feedback to recognize words automatically. Many do best one-on-one, at their own pace.

Intensive step-by-step reading lessons are often done in small groups or one-on-one.

If your child sees an outside tutor or therapist, it helps when they work closely with classroom teachers.

Earlier teaching works better, but it’s never too late to get help. Progress takes time and steady practice.

Ideas to try

• Let them choose books about things they love
• Listen to audiobooks while following the words
• Read aloud to them, even when they’re older
• Take turns reading pages, with no rush

Ideas to try

• Break work into short chunks with breaks
• Let them say answers aloud while you write, if the teacher agrees
• Read instructions aloud together
• Use text-to-speech or word processing tools

Encouraging physical activity and things your child is good at helps build confidence and self-esteem.

Places kids often shine

• Art and design
• Building and fixing things
• Drama and storytelling
• Music
• Sports

Try saying

• “Your brain learns in its own way, and we’ll find the way that works.”
• “I can see how hard you’re working.”
• “Reading is hard for you right now. It doesn’t mean you’re not smart.”
• “You’re really good at this other thing.”

Try to avoid

• “Just sound it out, it’s easy.”
• “Your sister never had trouble with this.”
• “You’re not trying.”
• “You’ll grow out of it.”

Dyslexia is lifelong. Children don’t outgrow it, but they can make real progress with the right help.

Some students need help with feelings that come from struggling at school. Counseling, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can help children and adults.

Answers kids can use

• “My brain learns to read in a different way.”
• “I use audiobooks. They’re like a superpower for stories.”
• “It’s called dyslexia. Lots of people have it.”

Many people with dyslexia have gone on to do great things, including inventor Thomas Edison and filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

Explain dyslexia to siblings in simple words, and make sure no one teases about reading. If a parent or caregiver has dyslexia too, sharing that can help a child feel less alone.

The IDA is a scientific and educational organization focused on dyslexia. Visit dyslexiaida.org for fact sheets and local branches.

Understood, from the National Center for Learning Disabilities, offers resources for parents of children with learning differences. Visit understood.org.

Parent Centers across the U.S. train and help families of children with disabilities. Find yours at parentcenterhub.org.

LDA has supported people with learning disabilities and their families since 1963, with state and local affiliates. Visit ldaamerica.org.