Dyslexia Support for Children
What Is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning difference that mainly affects reading and spelling. Children with dyslexia often have difficulty connecting the sounds in spoken words to the letters that represent them. This makes it hard to sound out words, recognise words quickly, and spell accurately.
Dyslexia is not caused by poor vision, low intelligence, or a lack of effort. It often runs in families, and children with a history of speech or language delays are more likely to have difficulties with reading.
Common Signs
Signs can look different depending on a child’s age.
Preschool and kindergarten
- Difficulty learning letter names and sounds
- Trouble with rhyming games or hearing which words start with the same sound
- Difficulty remembering sequences, like the alphabet or days of the week
School age
- Slow, effortful reading, even with familiar texts
- Guessing at words based on the first letter or the pictures
- Difficulty sounding out new or made-up words
- Spelling that is inconsistent or hard to read
- Avoiding reading aloud or reading for fun
- A noticeable gap between how well a child talks and how well they read or write
How Dyslexia Is Identified
There is no single test for dyslexia. Identification involves looking at a child’s reading, spelling, and phonological skills together, along with their history and how they respond to teaching. A formal diagnosis is typically made by a psychologist. A speech-language pathologist can assess the language skills behind reading and help you understand where your child’s difficulties are coming from.
If you are not sure whether your child’s reading struggles are dyslexia or something else, our page on reading and writing difficulties covers the broader picture.
How Speech Therapy Helps
Speech-language pathologists work on the sound and language skills that reading is built on. Support for children with dyslexia may include:
- Building phonological awareness: hearing, blending, and breaking apart sounds in words
- Teaching letter-sound patterns in a clear, step-by-step order (structured literacy)
- Practicing decoding and spelling with words that match the patterns being taught
- Building reading fluency with texts at the right level
- Supporting reading comprehension and written expression
- Sharing strategies with families and teachers so support carries into home and school
Goals are based on your child’s assessment and adjusted as their skills develop. Learn more about our literacy support.
What to Expect
Assessment
We start by assessing your child’s phonological awareness, decoding, reading fluency, comprehension, and spelling, along with related language skills. This shows where reading is breaking down and what to work on first.
Therapy sessions
Sessions are structured and follow a clear sequence, using games, multi-sensory activities, and reading and spelling practice. We share what to practise at home between sessions.
Working with your child’s school
We can suggest strategies for families to share with teachers, so classroom work and therapy goals support each other.
Sessions are available online across BC and in-home around Vancouver, in English and French.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a speech-language pathologist diagnose dyslexia?
In BC, a formal diagnosis of dyslexia is usually made by a psychologist through a psychoeducational assessment. A speech-language pathologist can assess the language and literacy skills involved in reading, such as phonological awareness, decoding, and spelling, and identify patterns that suggest a child may be at risk. This information is useful on its own for planning support, and can also help if you decide to pursue a psychoeducational assessment.
Does my child need a diagnosis before starting therapy?
No. Support can begin based on an assessment of your child's reading and spelling skills. Starting early is helpful, and you do not need to wait for a formal diagnosis.
Is dyslexia a sign of low intelligence?
No. Dyslexia is not related to intelligence. Many children with dyslexia have strong reasoning, problem-solving, and verbal skills. The difficulty is specific to how the brain processes the sounds in words and connects them to print.
Will my child grow out of dyslexia?
Dyslexia is lifelong, but that does not mean reading will always be as hard as it is now. With structured, targeted support, many children build stronger reading and spelling skills and learn strategies that help them at school.
Let’s talk about your child’s reading and spelling
Tell us what you are noticing at home or at school, with or without a diagnosis. In a free consultation, we’ll discuss your concerns and a practical next step.
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