Young girl receiving speech therapy from a professional at Arbutus Speech Therapy.

Speech Therapy for Dyslexia and other Language-Based Learning Difficulties

Children, Diagnosis / By

Are you worried that your child has problems with reading, writing, and spelling? If so, you might find this information about language-based learning difficulties (LLDs) useful. The most widely-known LLD is Dyslexia, which is when one has difficulty with reading. Unlike other learning disabilities, LLDs are not caused by problems with vision, hearing, or an intellectual disability. In fact, children with LLDs are often of average or above-average intelligence.

Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference that affects a person’s ability to accurately and fluently recognize words. It is characterized by poor spelling and difficulty reading, and it often runs in families. Dyslexia exists on a spectrum, ranging from mild challenges to more significant difficulties.

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects reading, spelling, and writing; it is not a sign of low intelligence. Speech-Language Pathologists are trained to assess the underlying language skills that support literacy, and early support can make a meaningful difference for children who are struggling.

How is dyslexia different from a speech or language challenge?

Many parents wonder whether reading struggles point to a speech issue, a language delay, or something else. Dyslexia is primarily a literacy-based learning difference. It affects how the brain processes written language: reading, spelling, and decoding new words. Many children with dyslexia speak clearly and have strong verbal skills; the challenge shows up with print.

Reading is built on the same language foundations that Speech-Language Pathologists work with every day, especially phonological awareness (the ability to hear and break apart the sounds in words). This connection means SLPs are well-placed to assess and support children with dyslexia and other language-based learning difficulties. If you are unsure whether your child’s struggles point to a speech concern, a language delay, or a learning difference, an SLP assessment can help clarify next steps.

Literacy indicators for children with Dyslexia

At each age, there are literacy indicators to look out for. A formal diagnosis of dyslexia is given by a registered psychologist or psychoeducational consultant; however, a speech therapist can assess related language and literacy skills, flag areas of concern, and provide a referral for a formal evaluation. If there is any concern about any of these difficulties, it generally does not hurt to get a professional opinion.

Indicators of dyslexia in children including preschool, kindergarten, and grade 3 signs.

Preschoolers

  • May not be interested in books or any print-based toys
  • May avoid nursery rhymes, songs, or word games
  • Difficulty rhyming
  • May use short sentences and a small vocabulary

Kindergarten to Grade 2

  • Inconsistent memory for words
  • Poor retrieval of names of colours, objects, days of the week, and other list items
  • Spelling is very difficult due to continued lack of phonological awareness
  • Frustration and avoidance techniques may be noticeable

Grades 3 to 6

  • May reverse letter sequences
  • Problems with decoding – requires context and/or will guess to decode words
  • Poor spelling
  • Dislike and avoidance of reading and writing
  • Poor punctuation and capitalization
  • Difficulty with cursive writing

Since LLDs affect a child’s ability to learn language-based skills, they are often not detected until a child enters the intermediate grades (around age 8). This is around the time when students make the shift from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn’. You or your child’s teacher may notice that your child is struggling to keep up with their peers at this time. Common difficulties include decoding (sounding out words when reading or spelling), listening comprehension, and expressing thoughts using spoken word.

The following breakdown from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association provides information on literacy milestones that you would expect for a student in Grade 3:

Reading

  • Understand phonics, or how sounds and words go together
  • Use word analysis skills, including root words, prefixes, and suffixes
  • Use clues from a story to help understand what they read
  • Predict and explain what will happen next in stories, and compare stories to tell how they are different
  • Ask and answer questions about what they read
  • Use what they know to learn about new topics
  • Read grade-level books with few mistakes
  • Reread and correct errors

Writing

  • Plan, organize, revise, and edit
  • Write stories, letters, and short reports
  • Use details in writing
  • Spell simple words correctly
  • Correct most spelling without help
  • Use a dictionary to correct spelling

How an SLP helps with literacy

Speech-Language Pathologists are trained in both spoken and written language. When a child struggles with reading, spelling, or writing, an SLP assessment looks at the building blocks that support literacy: phonological awareness, vocabulary, verbal working memory, and the ability to connect sounds with letters.

At Arbutus Speech Therapy, our speech-language pathologists work with children to:

  • Build phonological awareness, the foundation of reading and spelling
  • Strengthen word decoding skills for reading unfamiliar words
  • Improve spelling through structured, evidence-based approaches
  • Develop vocabulary and verbal reasoning to support reading comprehension
  • Collaborate with school teams to support learning across environments

Sessions take place in your child’s natural setting: at home, at school, or in the community, so support is built into daily learning rather than added on separately.

An SLP does not diagnose dyslexia; that requires a formal psychoeducational assessment. However, an SLP can identify language and literacy areas of concern, provide direct support, and connect you with the right professionals for a full evaluation. Learn more about our children’s speech therapy services to see what an assessment might involve.

A child working with a Speech-Language Pathologist at Arbutus Speech Therapy in Vancouver

Frequently Asked Questions

More Resources on Literacy

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