Dyslexia: signs, support and next steps
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that mainly affects reading and spelling words accurately and fluently. It is not caused by low intelligence or poor vision, and it is not about seeing letters backward. Most students with dyslexia have trouble with the sound structure of words, which makes linking letters to sounds slow to stick.
Only a qualified professional can evaluate a student for dyslexia. What parents and teachers can do is notice the signs early, start explicit teaching straight away, and keep a record of what was taught and how the student responded. That record helps any evaluation that follows.
The articles in this section describe common signs at different ages, what structured teaching for dyslexia looks like, what you can do at home, and how to ask a school for an evaluation. They also explain accommodations, such as audiobooks and extra time, and how they work alongside teaching rather than instead of it.
None of these articles can tell you whether a student has dyslexia. They can help you know what to watch for and who to ask.
Start here
Signs of dyslexia by age, and what to do next
Common signs of dyslexia in preschool, early grades, older kids and teens, what they do and don't mean, and the steps to take if you're worried.
All articles
Dyslexia explained: a plain-language guide for families
What dyslexia is and isn't, in plain words: how it affects reading and spelling, what causes it, how common it is, and what helps.Dyslexia myths parents still hear, and the facts
Common myths about dyslexia, from seeing letters backward to outgrowing it, and what research and expert groups actually say about each one.How to help a child with dyslexia at home
Practical ways parents can help a child with dyslexia at home: reading together, short practice routines, homework tips, tools and protecting confidence.Dyslexia and spelling: why it stays hard and what helps
Why spelling is so hard with dyslexia, what common spelling errors mean, and how to teach and support spelling at school and at home.Accommodations vs intervention for dyslexia: why your child needs both
The difference between accommodations and intervention for dyslexia, why a child needs both, common examples, and how they appear in IEPs and 504 plans.How to talk to the school about dyslexia concerns
How to raise dyslexia concerns with your child's school: what to bring, what to ask, how to request an evaluation in writing, and sample words to use.Dyslexia evaluation: who does it, what's included, and what comes next
What a dyslexia evaluation includes, who is qualified to do one, how school and private evaluations differ, and what happens after the results.Dyslexia screening laws: what parents should know
What state dyslexia screening laws generally require, how screening differs from evaluation, and how to find the rules in your own state.Dyslexia strategies for classroom teachers
Practical dyslexia strategies for classroom teachers: structured literacy, classroom supports, reading aloud, writing, tests and talking with families.