Dyslexia & Reading
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference that affects how the brain processes written and spoken language. Children with dyslexia often have difficulty with accurate and fluent word reading, spelling, and decoding (sounding out words), even if they are intelligent and motivated learners. Dyslexia is not caused by low effort or poor teaching. It is a neurobiological difference that can be successfully addressed with structured, evidence-based reading intervention.
Signs of Dyslexia
Early Signs of Dyslexia In Preschool & Early Elementary
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late talking or ongoing speech sound errors
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difficulty learning letters and their sounds
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difficulty spelling
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difficulty blending sounds together (e.g., c-a-t = cat)
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difficulty recognizing or producing rhyming words
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trouble learning nursery rhymes
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family history of reading or spelling difficulties
Signs of Dyslexia In School-Age Children
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slow, effortful reading
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guessing at words instead of sounding them out
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difficulty reading unfamiliar words
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avoidance of reading or homework
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difficulty remembering sight words
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frequent spelling errors that seem inconsistent
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strong verbal reasoning but weaker reading skills
Why Choose an SLP for Reading Intervention?
Many parents wonder whether their child needs a reading tutor or a speech-language pathologist (SLP). While tutors can provide valuable academic support, reading difficulties — especially dyslexia — are rooted in language.
A speech-language pathologist is uniquely trained to understand and treat the underlying language systems that support reading.
Reading is a Language-Based Skill
Learning to read requires:
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Phonological awareness (hearing and manipulating sounds)
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Understanding sound-symbol relationships
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Vocabulary knowledge
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Sentence structure and grammar
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Morphology (prefixes, suffixes, root words)
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Verbal working memory
When reading feels unusually hard, the root cause is often a weakness in one or more of these language areas.
An SLP is trained to assess and treat these underlying language processes — not just reading performance.
How an SLP Is Different From a Reading Tutor
A reading tutor typically:
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Provides homework support
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Practices reading skills
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Reinforces classroom instruction
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Focuses on academic progress
A speech-language pathologist:
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Evaluates underlying language and phonological processing
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Treats speech-to-print connections
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Addresses co-occurring speech sound disorders
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Targets morphology, syntax, and comprehension
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Provides structured, evidence-based literacy intervention
If the root of the difficulty is language-based, it requires language-based therapy.
When Is an SLP the Right Choice?
An SLP may be especially appropriate if your child:
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Has a history of speech or language delay
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Has difficulty with rhyming or sound manipulation
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Struggles with both reading and spelling
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Has strong ideas verbally but difficulty expressing them in writing
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Is not progressing despite tutoring
Because dyslexia is a language-based learning difference, treatment that addresses language directly can make a powerful difference.
My Approach
As a speech-language pathologist, I integrate structured literacy principles using the Orton-Gillingham approach with deep knowledge of language development to provide comprehensive, individualized reading intervention.
I don’t just help children practice reading — I help them understand how the English language works.
Orton-Gillingham Approach
The Orton-Gillingham approach is a structured, evidence-based method of teaching reading that is commonly used for children with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. This approach teaches the structure of the English language in a clear, step-by-step way so children can understand how sounds and letters work together to form words. Instruction is explicit, systematic, and multisensory, meaning children learn through seeing, hearing, speaking, and writing at the same time. By building skills gradually and reinforcing them through multiple pathways, the Orton-Gillingham approach helps students develop stronger decoding (sounding out words), spelling, and reading fluency while gaining confidence as readers.
Children with dyslexia often need reading instruction that is more direct, structured, and repetitive than what is typically provided in the classroom. The Orton-Gillingham approach is designed specifically for this type of learner. Skills are taught in a logical sequence, and each new concept builds on previously learned skills. Instruction is also individualized, meaning lessons are adjusted based on a child’s progress so they receive the support they need to master each step. This structured literacy approach helps children strengthen the foundational language skills needed for accurate, confident reading.
Because reading is fundamentally a language-based skill, speech-language pathologists are uniquely trained to support the underlying language processes that help children become confident, capable readers.