By Autumn Child, Arizona State University, Family and Human Development (M.S.). Part of Autumn’s Neurodivergent Blog Series, written during her Parents2Partners internship.
I listened to The Early Childhood Research Podcast episode “Dyslexia and Early Intervention” as part of my internship research on neurodiversity. Dyslexia is common, so nearly every teacher will have students with dyslexia. Here are key takeaways for parents and educators.
Common myths
- Myth: Children with dyslexia read backwards. Dyslexia is much more than reversing letters.
- Myth: Dyslexia mostly affects boys. Dyslexia is often underreported in girls. Boys may act out and get noticed, while girls often keep their struggles to themselves.
Speech and early language matter
Speech plays an important role in dyslexia. When children learn words, seeing how a word is formed often matters more than just hearing it. Parents can model clear speech and encourage children to watch their mouth when learning new words, which can make the move from speaking to reading easier.
Every child is different
Dyslexia is not only about phonics or giving more time to read. It ranges from mild to severe, and each child needs support tailored to them.