Dyslexia In Children: Understanding The Diversity Of Dyslexia And Support Options
Learning disorders like dyslexia can significantly impact a child's ability to learn at school and at home. This condition most frequently impacts reading and writing but can also result in diverse presentations. Parents, caregivers, teachers, and counselors may wonder how they can best support children with dyslexia and what the condition can look like in different settings. Various support systems can be put in place, helping children thrive and improving their mental health and self-esteem. If you have a child with dyslexia, consider speaking with a licensed therapist to learn how to offer effective support.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that may impact as much as 20% of the population and appears to make up 80% to 90% of all people with learning disabilities. Its symptoms are often noticed in elementary school, around first or second grade. Dyslexia can affect how people associate sounds with words and how those words are written or read. Reading comprehension can be difficult for those with dyslexia, and they may struggle to put words into sentences or spell them correctly based on how they sound out loud.
Dyslexia is categorized as a “specific learning disorder (dyslexia subtype)” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Below are some of its symptoms:
- Unexpected learning difficulties compared to normal development in other areas
- Signs of learning difficulties that can appear as early as preschool
- Difficulty learning the correspondence between letters and sounds
- Difficulty with reading fluency and the ability to recognize words they’ve already learned, including familiar words
- No sign of IQ challenges
- Persistence of symptoms for at least six months despite targeted instruction or support in an academic environment
- Reading aloud slowly or inaccurately
- Difficulty with spelling
- Difficulty learning a foreign language
- Trouble learning at the same pace as typical readers
Dyslexia is considered a neurodevelopmental learning disorder alongside other neurodevelopmental conditions like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These conditions are often ruled out when diagnosing dyslexia but can co-occur with the condition. Dyslexia is sometimes considered a form of neurodivergence rather than a learning disability, but this label is a personal choice.
How does dyslexia impact children?
Children may fall behind their peers in areas like reading comprehension and writing. They may also receive lower grades due to their challenges, despite being intelligent and excelling in other areas. Some kids might benefit from reading instruction programs, but others may struggle to learn and could be held back or treated differently.
If their peers notice these difficulties, children with dyslexia might face bullying and become embarrassed. Sometimes, this leads them to lose the motivation to continue trying to read and write. As children move into middle school and high school, they may develop various strategies to manage these challenges, but they could continue to struggle in unique ways.
Can dyslexia have different presentations in different children?
Dyslexia can look different from person to person. For example, some children might struggle more with reading out loud, whereas others may have difficulty spelling words by sounding them out in their heads.
In addition, there are many diverse types of children who can have dyslexia. However, some groups may be underrepresented in dyslexia diagnoses. For instance, a 2023 study suggested that many African American students with dyslexia may be overlooked in schools. Children with other disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disabilities, could also be overlooked and may not receive as much support for dyslexia as they do for other conditions.
Dyslexia is not the only specific learning disorder in the DSM-5. Dyscalculia, a condition involving extreme difficulty with mathematics, and dysgraphia, which involves difficulty with writing, are also categorized as specific learning disorders. These conditions can also contribute to frustration and difficulty at school. However, they don’t appear to be as well-known as dyslexia and tend to be treated less frequently.
Neurodivergence and dyslexia
Neurodiversity is a term generally referring to variation in the way people see and interact with the world around them. It proposes that specific brain differences may not be disabilities but could instead simply be differences in how people work and learn.
Neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia are often grouped into this label and viewed as forms of neurodivergence. Some people argue that dyslexia would not be considered a disability if people were taught differently and encouraged to use their natural skills instead of being boxed into one type of learning.
For example, children with dyslexia often excel in art and other forms of intelligence. Although reading and writing can be seen as important skills, they were not always considered necessary in society, and there may be ways to succeed and have a fulfilling career as an adult without perfect language comprehension.
How families can support their child with dyslexia
Offering support when a child struggles with dyslexia often involves advocacy, education, and love. Below are some ways to support your child.
Advocate for them at school
Children can face barriers when teachers and school counselors don’t understand why they’re feeling challenged compared to other students at their grade level. Some kids might be disciplined for their difficulties or told they have low intelligence.
However, dyslexia is not a lack of intelligence. Advocating for your child can mean getting them a 504 plan, individual education plan (IEP), or case management team. You can also speak with their teachers and counselors about their diagnosis and what helps them. Some schools might have support in place for children with learning difficulties.
Praise their hard work
Praise your child for their success, regardless of the areas in which they excel or their grades. You can also praise them for working hard and making an effort to learn. Tell them you’re proud of them and are always there to support them.
Emphasize their personality traits over academic success
Children are often recognized for how well they do in school. Parents might reward their children for getting straight As, for example. However, kids with dyslexia might not receive high grades and could struggle to achieve recognition at school. Parents can support their children by emphasizing other areas in which they succeed, such as art or music. They can also praise their child’s personality traits, such as empathy, kindness, or humor.
Teach your child helpful strategies
Often, dyslexic adults can offer insight into how dyslexic children might learn and improve their learning experience. Consider joining dyslexia forums and Facebook groups to learn more about the experiences of individuals with dyslexia and what has helped them. You may discover various strategies that you can teach your child. Learning from people who live with dyslexia might be more effective than reading articles written by someone without dyslexia.
Help them associate words and ideas with visual prompts
Some people with dyslexia might find it helpful to associate words with visual prompts and ideas instead of sounds. For example, they might pair certain words with certain color schemes. Some might associate words with images or drawings of those words. Mind maps and anchor charts may also be useful.
Get them professional support and tutoring geared toward dyslexia
A tutor or reading specialist with experience supporting kids with dyslexia might be helpful. Schools may offer an education plan for those with learning disabilities. This type of education plan may help them succeed and achieve high grades without necessarily adhering to the standards expected of other students.
Accommodations can be a helpful way for children to work through school without worrying that they will fail or be held back. Professional support, like therapy, can help children cope with the emotional impacts of school life.
How is dyslexia diagnosed, and are there treatments for the condition?
Dyslexia is considered a lifelong condition that cannot be cured. Diagnosis often involves psychological testing to look for signs of dyslexia, an interview with a specialist, and observation from teachers and people in the child’s life.
Although dyslexia is lifelong, various treatment methods may help dyslexic children understand their minds, improve their reading performance, and cope with challenges. Therapy can also be helpful, as dyslexic children tend to have a higher risk of experiencing the following:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Social anxiety
- Stress
- Burnout
- Low self-esteem
- Sorrow and anger
- Behavioral challenges
- Bullying
If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.
If you notice signs of distress in your child, consider connecting them with a licensed mental health professional.
Mental health support for parents and teens
Supporting your child with a learning disability can be challenging, and you might wonder if you’re unable to provide them with everything they need. In these cases, talking to a therapist yourself might be helpful. However, a busy life, financial struggles, and other barriers can lead some people to avoid seeking therapy. In these cases, online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp for adults or TeenCounseling for teens may be more accessible.
Through an online platform, clients can access therapy at a time that works for them, including outside of standard business hours. In addition, online platforms frequently offer resources like worksheets, group sessions, goal-tracking, and journaling prompts, which might be helpful for those looking to process challenges outside of therapy sessions.
According to a 2021 study, online platforms can be effective in supporting parents, helping them learn emotional regulation skills and reducing stress and burnout from parenting struggles.
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