How to Help Children with Dyslexia Overcome Reading Challenges
, by Tatianna Gerard, 11 min reading time
Dyslexia is one of the most common learning difficulties faced by children, affecting their ability to read, write, and spell. According to the Australian Dyslexia Association, It’s estimated that approximately 10% of the Australian population experiences dyslexia. This means that in nearly every classroom, one to five children may struggle with reading, whether they have mild, moderate, or severe dyslexia. This can create significant challenges for both the child and their educators, especially when it comes to developing literacy skills.
While dyslexia can impact a child’s confidence and academic progress, the good news is that with the right support and tools, children with dyslexia can overcome these reading challenges. This blog will explore practical strategies, tools, and resources that can help children improve their reading abilities and feel more confident in their learning journey.
Recognising the signs of dyslexia in children
Recognising dyslexia in children early can make a big difference in how children cope with their reading challenges. While dyslexia affects children differently at various stages of development, here are some signs to look out for in preschoolers, primary school children, and high school students:
Dyslexia in preschoolers
In preschoolers, dyslexia can be challenging to spot, but early signs may include:
- Delayed speech development
- Difficulty pronouncing words correctly
- Trouble understanding or remembering rhymes
- Difficulty learning to recognise shapes, colours, or their own name
- Struggles with retelling a story in the correct sequence
Dyslexia in primary school children
At the primary school level, more obvious signs of dyslexia may begin to appear as children start formal education:
- Trouble reading single words and recognising common words by sight
- Frequent confusion of letters like ‘d’ and ‘b’, or ‘m’ and ‘w’
- Reversing letters or words (e.g., writing "tip" instead of "pit")
- Difficulty with grammar concepts, such as prefixes or suffixes
- Avoiding reading aloud and reluctance to read for pleasure
- Reading below the expected level for their age
Dyslexia in high school students
By high school, dyslexia can impact more complex language tasks, leading to:
- Struggles with reading comprehension and poor reading fluency
- Persistent spelling issues, often with inconsistent misspellings of the same word
- Difficulty writing summaries or completing writing assignments
- Challenges learning a foreign language
Recognising these signs at each stage is essential for early intervention and support. If any of these signs are observed, seeking professional advice from a specialist or educational psychologist is a key next step.
Common reading challenges faced by children with dyslexia
Children with dyslexia face a variety of hurdles when it comes to reading. These challenges can slow down their literacy development and make it harder for them to keep up with their peers in the classroom. Below are some of the most common reading difficulties dyslexic children experience:
1. Decoding words
Decoding involves breaking down words into individual sounds (phonemes) and blending those sounds to form words. For dyslexic children, this process can be particularly challenging, as they may struggle to recognise letter-sound relationships. This makes it hard for them to sound out new or unfamiliar words. Even common words that they’ve seen before may need to be decoded each time, leading to slow and laborious reading. Without strong decoding skills, children may find it difficult to build a reliable vocabulary for fluent reading.
2. Reading fluency
Fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and expression. For children with dyslexia, achieving fluency can be a major challenge. Since they spend so much energy on decoding individual words, it can slow down their reading pace, making it difficult to read smoothly or naturally. This slow pace often causes frustration, as it becomes tiring for children to keep up with class assignments or finish tests in a timely manner. Additionally, their reading may sound robotic as they focus more on the mechanics of reading rather than the flow of the text.
3. Comprehension issues
Reading comprehension, or the ability to understand and interpret what is read, is often another obstacle. Children with dyslexia may read a passage correctly but struggle to grasp the meaning because so much of their focus is on decoding the words. This can lead to a breakdown in understanding, especially when reading longer or more complex texts. They may have trouble recalling details, following storylines, or understanding concepts. Comprehension issues can persist even if their word recognition improves because they haven’t developed the automaticity needed for fluent reading.
4. Spelling and grammar difficulties
Children with dyslexia often find it difficult to spell words correctly due to challenges in recognising letter patterns. They may reverse letters or confuse similar-looking ones, like "b" and "d," or "m" and "w." This issue extends to grammar as well. Understanding and applying rules for prefixes, suffixes, or verb tenses may be difficult for dyslexic children, leading to frequent mistakes in their writing. Spelling and grammatical errors can affect their overall literacy development and can be frustrating, even when they are working hard to improve their reading.
5. Frustration and low confidence
Perhaps one of the most significant challenges children with dyslexia face is the emotional toll. Struggling to keep up with classmates in reading and writing can cause them to lose confidence in their abilities. Many dyslexic children may feel embarrassed or anxious about reading aloud or completing assignments. Over time, this frustration can lead to a reluctance to engage with reading activities, further delaying their progress. Helping these children rebuild their confidence and experience small wins can be vital to their long-term success in literacy.
Strategies to help children overcome reading challenges
There are many strategies that can help children with dyslexia improve their reading skills and build confidence. Here are a few proven approaches:
1. Multisensory learning
Engaging multiple senses—sight, sound, and touch—can be highly effective for dyslexic children. Tactile activities like tracing letters in sand, combined with reading aloud and using visual aids, help reinforce learning. Multisensory instruction enables children to process information through different pathways, making it easier to decode words.
2. Phonics-based instruction
Phonics instruction, which focuses on teaching the relationship between sounds and letters, is crucial for children with dyslexia. Breaking words into smaller sound units (phonemes) and teaching children to blend these sounds together can significantly improve their decoding abilities. Structured, systematic phonics programs are especially helpful in strengthening word recognition and spelling skills.
3. Practice and patience
Consistent practice, combined with patience, is key in helping children with dyslexia improve their reading. Encouraging them to read regularly—even if it’s just for a few minutes each day—can build their skills over time. Celebrate small victories to keep them motivated and make reading an enjoyable activity, rather than a chore.
4. Use of assistive technology
Assistive tools like reader pens can be transformative for dyslexic children. Reader pens (or sometimes known as a scanner pen) allow children to hear text read aloud as they follow along, making it easier to understand and retain information. These devices provide independence, as children no longer need constant support from an adult to read and comprehend text.
How assistive technology can support children with dyslexia
Assistive technology refers to tools and devices that make tasks like reading and writing easier for individuals with learning disabilities such as dyslexia. These technologies help children process written information more effectively and allow them to engage with learning materials in ways that suit their needs. Plus, in Australia, some assistive technologies may be funded through the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme), providing further support for children who need access to these helpful tools.
1. Reader pens
Reader pens are handheld devices that scan text and read it aloud, making reading more accessible for students, especially dyslexic children. These pens allow users to hear the words spoken, which can aid in comprehension, especially when they struggle with decoding text.
Benefits:
- Encourages independent reading
- Improves reading comprehension by allowing children to hear text
- Reduces frustration by providing immediate audio feedback
- Helps in classrooms where continuous teacher support isn’t available
2. Text-to-speech apps
Text-to-speech apps convert digital text into spoken words, helping children process information more effectively. Children can adjust the speed of the voice and follow along as the text is read aloud.
Benefits:
- Reduces reading fatigue by converting written content into audio
- Allows children to listen to text at their own pace
- Supports comprehension, especially with complex material
3. Audiobooks
Audiobooks are narrated versions of printed books, providing children with access to literature without the need to decode words on a page. They can listen to books that may otherwise be beyond their reading level.
Benefits:
- Encourages a love for reading by making stories more engaging
- Helps children improve listening comprehension
- Provides access to more advanced reading materials
4. Dictation software
Dictation software allows children to speak aloud and have their words transcribed into text. This tool helps those who struggle with spelling or grammar express themselves more freely.
Benefits:
- Increases written productivity without the worry of spelling errors
- Supports children who may feel anxious about writing
- Encourages creative expression without focusing on mechanics
By integrating assistive technology into their learning routine, children with dyslexia can overcome common barriers and engage with written content in ways that build their confidence and skills. These tools offer practical, empowering solutions to support literacy development.
The role of parents and educators in supporting children with dyslexia
Parents and educators play a crucial role in helping children with dyslexia overcome reading challenges. Collaboration between home and school is essential for creating a supportive learning environment.
Parents’ role
At home, parents can provide encouragement by fostering a positive attitude toward reading. It’s important to celebrate small successes and ensure children have access to resources like reader pens or audiobooks to make reading less overwhelming. Additionally, parents should explore funding options, such as the NDIS, which may cover tools like reader pens to support their child’s learning.
Parents can also advocate for accommodations in school, such as extra time on assignments or access to assistive technology, ensuring their child’s needs are met.
Educators’ role
Teachers and school staff can create a dyslexia-friendly classroom by incorporating multisensory learning and phonics-based instruction into daily lessons. Providing access to assistive technology, like text-to-speech apps or reader pens, ensures that dyslexic students aren’t left behind. Regular communication between parents and teachers is key to tracking progress and adjusting support strategies as needed.
Helping your child succeed
While dyslexia presents reading challenges, with the right support, children can build the skills they need to succeed. Parents, educators, and caregivers all play key roles in this process, from fostering a positive attitude towards reading to advocating for tools like reader pens and other assistive technologies. These technologies, many of which may be funded through the NDIS in Australia, provide essential support in helping children with dyslexia read more independently and confidently.