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Dyslexia is a common learning disorder (sometimes referred to as a learning disability) that primarily affects the skills involved in reading, spelling, and writing. These are amongst the first skills children are taught when they start school. While all children learn at different rates, they may be showing signs of Dyslexia if they are having more significant and persistent difficulties with reading and spelling compared with others their age.  

Despite being one of the most common learning disorders in children, many people have questions about what exactly Dyslexia is, what causes it, and how it can affect children’s learning and development. This fact sheet will explore each of these and more to provide a comprehensive understanding of Dyslexia.  

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a specific learning disorder (SLD) characterised by persistent difficulties with reading accuracy (known as decoding) and reading fluency and can be accompanied by poor spelling (known as encoding). It is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the phonological component of language. Dyslexia is not a reflection of intelligence and is not linked to vision impairments, so children with Dyslexia may achieve well in other academic areas.

Dyslexia causes difficulties with identifying letters and their relationship to speech sounds, which leads to slow reading and poor reading accuracy. The ability to link spoken sounds with written letter symbols is crucial to reading, writing and spelling. Learning to read and write is a slow process, because written letters have no direct and obvious correlation with their sounds so for children who have Dyslexia and cannot create this link, reading becomes very difficult. These challenges can impact academic performance and self-esteem, making it essential to provide support and intervention.

It’s estimated that around one in 10 people have Dyslexia. It is a lifelong condition with no cure, but with early diagnosis, intervention and specialised education programs, children with Dyslexia can learn to read alongside their classmates.

Signs of Dyslexia in Children

Signs of Dyslexia can vary widely and can be hard to spot at an early age. Children and young people with Dyslexia can display some of the following characteristics to varying extents:

Signs of Dyslexia in the Early Years

It can be difficult to recognise any signs of Dyslexia before your child enters school and receives structured teaching in reading skills, but some early clues may indicate the potential for difficulties developing reading and spelling skills:

  • Late talking and/or learning new words slowly.
  • Problems with pronunciation, such as reversing sounds in words or confusing words that sound alike.
  • Being unable to recognise letters in their own name.
  • Mispronouncing familiar words or using “baby talk”.
  • A family history of reading and/or spelling difficulties (Dyslexia has a genetic component and often runs in families).

Signs of Dyslexia in the first years of school

Once your child reaches school age, Dyslexia symptoms may become more apparent. Signs may include:

  • Difficulty sounding out short words like ‘cat’, ‘map’, ‘nap’.
  • Not having a strategy for reading new words e.g. ‘sounding out’.
  • Poor reading fluency – unable to blend sounds together smoothly
  • Limited phonological awareness – not associating letters with sounds, such as the letter ‘b’ with the “b” sound.
  • Difficulty seeing (and occasionally hearing) similarities and differences in letters and words.
  • Poor spelling.
  • Spending an unusually long time completing tasks that involve reading or writing.
  • Avoiding reading out loud or any activities that involve reading.
  • Complaining about how hard reading is.

Many teachers are not specifically trained to recognise the signs of Dyslexia. Children who are intelligent and participate fully in class often slip through the cracks because their reading difficulties are supported by their strengths in other areas.

Signs of Dyslexia in primary school and high school

As children progress through school, signs can include some of the following:

  • Difficulty reading correctly and consistently.
  • Difficulty spelling correctly and consistently.
  • Avoiding activities that involve reading.
  • Spending an unusually long amount of time completing tasks that involve reading or writing, including tests.
  • Reduced vocabulary in writing.
  • Challenges with reading comprehension due to difficulty with fluent word reading.
  • Low self-esteem that may not be immediately visible.

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What Causes Dyslexia and Reading Difficulties?

The exact causes of Dyslexia remain unknown; but research suggests it is linked to genetic factors, often running in families. It is a condition present from birth and cannot be “caught” or developed later in life from external factors.
Differences in brain anatomy and activity have also been observed in the parts of the brain involved with language processing. These factors impact the way the brain can remember and correctly link sounds to written words, affecting both spoken and written language. This is why people with Dyslexia have difficulty with written language while their oral language (speaking and listening) abilities can be unaffected.

Some common factors that may contribute to Dyslexia include:

  • Genetics: Family history of Dyslexia or other learning difficulties.
  • Brain Anatomy: Structural differences in the parts of the brain that process language.

How is Dyslexia diagnosed?

For children with Dyslexia, early identification and intervention is crucial. Dyslexia can be hard to diagnose unless the signs are severe. Start by reaching out to your child’s school to get the teacher’s opinion. If your child’s reading skills are well below the expected level for their age, or you notice any of the above signs of Dyslexia, then you should consult a GP or paediatrician. A GP or paediatrician can perform ear, eye and medical tests to rule out other possible causes of your child’s reading difficulties and refer them for a formal assessment by a psychologist. You do not need a referral to book a comprehensive evaluation with a psychologist.

A comprehensive Dyslexia assessment by a psychologist may include:

  • Family Questionnaire: Gathering information about your child’s developmental history, family history of learning disabilities and any other medical conditions that may impact their learning.
  • Cognitive Testing: Evaluating intellectual abilities, memory, and processing speed to rule out other potential causes of learning difficulties.
  • Academic or Educational assessment: Evaluating academic skills such as reading, writing, spelling, comprehension and mathematics.

Understand that it takes time to make a diagnosis of Dyslexia. Before an assessment can be undertaken, your child must have received six months of formal literacy instruction using effective reading approaches. For a psychologist to give a definitive diagnosis of Dyslexia, your child’s difficulties in reading and spelling words accurately and fluently must be greater than their difficulties in reading comprehension, writing or mathematics. If they also have difficulties in other academic areas, an alternate diagnosis such as Specific Learning Disorder may be made.

An evaluation by a speech pathologist may also assist.

Child and adult sitting on floor reading book

Support for Dyslexia

While there is no cure for Dyslexia, there are many strategies and accommodations that can support children while they develop their reading skills. Students significantly impacted by Dyslexia are entitled under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 to accommodations like differentiated curricula and assessments.

With early identification and evidence-based interventions, children with Dyslexia can become successful learners. Some of the most effective ways to support a child with Dyslexia include:

  • Individualised Learning Plan (ILP): Developing specific goals and strategies to target your child’s specific difficulties with reading, spelling and writing.
  • Targeted Reading Instruction: Explicit instruction using a Systematic Synthetic Phonics approach that teaches the link between sounds and letters is proven to be most effective for children with Dyslexia. Multi-sensory strategies that combine phonics with gross and fine motor activities may support formal phonics instruction and help children better understand the written word.
  • Assistive Technology: Using text-to-speech software, audiobooks and scanning pens can help students with Dyslexia to access written information required for learning while still developing their reading, spelling and writing skills.
  • Accommodations: Special adjustments can be arranged with your child’s school to give them the best opportunity to demonstrate their learning. Some accommodations may include extra time on tests and assignments, taking exams orally instead of through writing and using a computer for writing tasks.

Building a supportive network of teachers, parents and other professionals is crucial for children with Dyslexia to experience success. Encouragement, understanding and patience can make a significant difference in their education journey.

How Learning Links Can Support Children with Dyslexia

Learning Links has more than 50 years of experience supporting children with learning difficulties like Dyslexia. We offer a range of services and resources to support children with reading difficulties.

  • Assessments to evaluate a child’s reading abilities
  • Specialist tutoring to get targeted support in the areas of reading a child has difficulty
  • Speech therapy to build the language and literacy skills necessary for reading
  • Articles, webinars and videos to provide information and strategies for home and school

Parent/Carer Information

Child Information

Service Information


How Families Can Help Their Child

Remember, as a parent, carer or family member of a child with Dyslexia, you are their most important ally and advocate. There is a lot you can do to improve their academic success and sense of self-worth. Emotional support and opportunities for achievement in activities that do not involve reading are important for children with Dyslexia.

Important strategies to consider include:

  • Intervene Early: As soon as you or your child’s teacher may suspect there is an issue with their reading or spelling, put a plan in place, such as a Synthetic Phonics intervention, and have them assessed so that you have a clear understanding of their challenges and needs.
  • Help Your Child Understand Dyslexia: Explain to your child what Dyslexia is and that it is not a personal failure. Your child will be able to deal with things much better if they understand it is nothing to do with intelligence and is something they can learn to navigate.
  • Read Aloud with Your Child: Practice identifying letters and matching with the corresponding sounds in everyday reading opportunities such as menus, signs or bedtime stories.
  • Provide Many Opportunities for Practice: Use multi-sensory activities that incorporate gross and fine motor skills as visual and tactile activities to help reinforce reading and spelling skills. This could include using letter tiles, tracing words, sensory bins or phonics I Spy.
  • Create a Supportive Home Learning Environment: Provide a quiet, organised place for your child to work, and designate a study time. Limit screen time and make sure your child gets enough rest and eats regular, healthy meals.
  • Communicate Frequently with Your Child’s Teachers: Check on their progress in school and find out what you can do at home to further support them. Advocate for your child if you feel extra support or special teaching arrangements may help them.
  • Be Supportive: Troubles with reading may affect your child’s self-esteem. Encourage them by praising the small steps they take in their schoolwork, and their talents and strengths. Emphasise the importance of effort and perseverance over succeeding every time.
  • Join a Support Group: Get in touch with parents whose children face similar learning difficulties. Support groups can take on many forms including in-person gatherings or Facebook Groups and provide useful information and emotional support. Your health professional may be able to recommend support groups in your area.

Common myths about Dyslexia

Despite its prevalence, there are still many misconceptions about Dyslexia. Some common myths include:

Myth 1: People with Dyslexia aren’t smart

Dyslexia is not linked to intelligence. Individuals with Dyslexia can have good reading comprehension, problem-solving and creative thinking skills. With support in reading, children can achieve success in their learning.

Myth 2: Dyslexia can be outgrown

There is no cure for Dyslexia. It is a lifelong condition that can continue to have impacts throughout a person’s life. With the right strategies, people can learn to navigate their challenges with reading.

Myth 3: People with Dyslexia See Letters Backwards

This is perhaps one of the most common misconceptions about Dyslexia. Dyslexia is not a problem with vision. Letter reversals often happen as a normal part of development and are related to visual processing and bilateral integration. It is normal to see a child seeing or writing letters backwards until about 7 years of age.


Helpful Resources

SPELD NSW
SPELD NSW offers support for individuals with specific learning difficulties, including Dyslexia. They provide resources, tutoring services, workshops, and assessments.