Many myths persist about struggling readers and the science of reading. One of the most damaging charges is that struggling readers haven’t had adequate instruction, their parents didn’t read to them enough, or invest enough time in formal reading curriculum.
In reality, dyslexia is a brain-based difference that we can see on MRI scans. Researchers estimate that as many as one in five English speakers are dyslexic, cutting across all economic, social, and ethnic lines. The cause is unclear, but the brain science is not. Dyslexia affects the neural pathways for processing language; it is not a visual problem with “letter reversals” or “jumpy text” as commonly assumed.
As a neurological condition dyslexia cannot be cured, but it can be treated. The good news is that neuroscience has already identified successful interventions for dyslexic students, which also provide the best foundation for typical readers: multi-sensory, structured literacy instruction. The Orton-Gilliangham (OG) method is the most common approach within structured literacy. Logic of English, the language arts program at Regina Mater, is one example of a user-friendly OG curriculum.
To learn more, we recommend the following resources:
If you suspect your child may be dyslexic, private neuropsychologists or public school psychologists can help. Homeschool and private school students have a right to an evaluation from the school district under the federal “Child Find” program. See the Texas Education Agency for more.