When parents hear the word "dyslexia," they often think of reading tutors and teachers, which makes sense. What surprises many families is that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are also part of the picture. The reason comes down to one idea: reading is built on spoken language. Here's what dyslexia is, why it's considered language-based, and what role an SLP can play.
What is dyslexia?
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) describes dyslexia as "the most well-known reading disorder." People with reading disorders often have trouble recognizing words they already know and understanding what they read, and they may also be poor spellers.[3] ASHA notes that a word reading disorder "is also known as dyslexia."[1]
A few facts are worth knowing up front:
- It isn't about intelligence or effort. NICHD states that reading disorders "are not a sign of lower intelligence or unwillingness to learn."[3] The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) adds that dyslexia "is not a result of laziness or lack of intelligence."[5]
- It isn't caused by vision problems. Researcher Tiffany Hogan writes that, "contrary to popular press, dyslexia is NOT caused by visual problems such as seeing letters backwards."[6] ASHA likewise reports there is "no general support that visually based deficits cause reading disabilities."[1]
- It's lifelong. The AAP describes dyslexia as "a lifelong condition that a child will not outgrow."[5] NICHD explains that reading disorders can't be "cured," but that with proper instruction, people can overcome specific problems, learn to read, and improve fluency and comprehension.[4]
- It's not rare. Hulme and Snowling note that estimates suggest "somewhere between 3 and 7%" of the population have educationally significant difficulties with word reading, and that where the cut-off is set is "to some extent arbitrary."[7]
Why is dyslexia called a language-based learning disability?
Reading depends on connecting print to the sounds of spoken words. According to ASHA, in dyslexia "phonological processing problems are a core deficit," and the primary cause of word-level reading difficulties is phonological processing deficits.[1] Phonological processing includes skills like phonological awareness, the ability to hear and work with the sounds in spoken words. Hulme and Snowling write that the development of decoding skills "appears to depend critically upon phonological language skills."[7]
ASHA's public guide explains that reading, spelling, and writing problems "are language problems," and that "early speech and language problems can lead to later reading and writing problems." It also notes that many children with reading problems have other language problems, and that you may hear the terms "language-based learning disabilities" or "specific learning disorder."[2]
How are speech and language problems linked to dyslexia?
The overlap is substantial. ASHA reports that "children with spoken language problems frequently have difficulty learning to read and write, and conversely, children with reading and writing problems often have difficulty with spoken language."[1] In one study ASHA summarizes, more than 25% of children with language impairment were poor readers by the end of kindergarten.[1]
Hogan notes that "children with dyslexia often have early speech and language delays and later co-morbid deficits in broader language skills beyond phonology," while adding that this doesn't mean every child with dyslexia has language skills low enough to be diagnosed with a developmental language disorder.[6]
Can a speech-language pathologist diagnose dyslexia?
ASHA's professional guidance says SLPs "play a critical and direct role" in the development of literacy and in "the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of written language disorders, including dyslexia."[1] Among the roles ASHA lists are screening children at risk for reading and writing difficulties, conducting comprehensive assessments of written language, and "diagnosing disorders of reading and writing—including dyslexia—and describing the relationship between these disorders and the student's spoken language difficulties."[1]
The label a child receives can vary by setting. Writing in 2018, Hogan noted that schools rarely used the dyslexia label, so children with dyslexia might instead be identified as having a specific reading disability or a speech and language impairment, or not identified at all.[6] ASHA also describes SLPs referring to other professionals when needed to rule out other conditions.[1]
What an SLP might look at
For older children, ASHA says an SLP may check how well a child "plays with" sounds in words, whether they can put syllables and sounds together to make words, whether they can break a word into syllables or sounds, and how well they can repeat strings of words, numbers, letters, and sounds.[2] The SLP will also test the child's speech, language, and thinking skills, such as planning, organizing, and attention to detail.[2] If you're considering this step, our evaluations page explains what's involved.
What does an SLP do to help a child with dyslexia?
ASHA describes several kinds of literacy intervention approaches, which are often combined:[1]
- Print-to-speech word structure approaches that are systematic and explicit, teaching elements such as letter–sound (grapheme–phoneme) correspondences for reading and spelling.[1]
- Speech-to-print approaches that begin with spelling (phonological encoding) to teach decoding and build automatic word recognition.[1]
- Language comprehension approaches that address gaps such as unknown vocabulary or complex sentence structure.[1]
- Spelling and writing approaches, including instruction that combines sounds, spelling patterns, and word meanings.[1]
Hogan summarizes the research this way: children with dyslexia "require intense, systematic, explicit word reading instruction."[6] NICHD similarly notes that intervention should be intensive, that teachers with special training provide the most effective instruction, and that "the earlier children receive help, the better the results."[4]
ASHA emphasizes collaboration: the SLP's role "may vary by setting and availability of other professionals," such as reading teachers, and "it is important that intervention be collaborative."[1] ASHA's public guide adds that an SLP can work with a child's teacher and help the child find ways to organize and focus on their work.[2] You can read more on our reading and literacy page.
Why timing matters: Hogan writes that "early diagnosis of dyslexia in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten is ideal so that early intervention may stave off the effects of future poor reading." She also cautions that young children who struggle on pre-reading measures are "only at risk for dyslexia," not diagnosed.[6]
Supporting your child at home
The AAP suggests reading aloud together and listening to audiobooks at home.[5] Keeping stories enjoyable matters too. NICHD points out that experiences such as whether children were read to often as preschoolers can play a significant role in reading ability, alongside genetic factors.[8]
The bottom line
Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference, not a sign of low intelligence or lack of effort. Because reading is built on spoken language, SLPs can take part in identifying and supporting children with dyslexia, often working alongside teachers and reading specialists. If your child has a history of speech or language delays, or reading and spelling feel unusually hard, talking with a speech-language pathologist is a reasonable next step.
Sources
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (n.d.). Written Language Disorders (Practice Portal). ASHA.
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (n.d.). Learning Disabilities. ASHA.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (n.d.). What are reading disorders?. NICHD, National Institutes of Health.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (n.d.). What are common treatments for reading disorders?. NICHD, National Institutes of Health.
- Gill, R. E., & Leppert, M. (2024). Dyslexia, Dysgraphia & Dyscalculia: Helping Kids With Learning Disorders Thrive. HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Hogan, T. P. (2018). Five Ways Speech-Language Pathologists Can Positively Impact Children With Dyslexia. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools.
- Hulme, C., & Snowling, M. J. (2014). The interface between spoken and written language: developmental disorders. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (n.d.). What causes reading disorders?. NICHD, National Institutes of Health.
Articles from Speech Me Therapy, a pediatric speech-language therapy practice in North Phoenix serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and families across Arizona by telehealth. Our posts summarize published guidance from professional and public health organizations; sources are listed at the end of every article.