Dyslexia is one of the most common neurocognitive disorders affecting millions of people worldwide. With the right resources, children with dyslexia can develop strong reading, writing, and comprehension skills, gaining confidence in their abilities. In this article, we introduce some of the most practical, evidence-based tools designed to meet the unique needs of dyslexic learners and empower them on their learning journey. Let’s dive into these essential resources and make learning more accessible for every child!
1. Multi-Sensory Instruction
Multisensory instruction is a way of teaching that engages more than one sense at a time to stimulate different parts of the brain and enhance the learning process. Combining the use of sight, sound, touch, and movement helps children with Dyslexia better understand and retain information. Techniques often include activities such as tracing letters in sand, using letter tiles, or read-alouds and echo reading. Research shows that engaging multiple senses strengthens neural pathways associated with reading, which does not only make it easier for children to process language by creating more ways for them to connect with words and their meanings, but also imrpoves memory performance (1).
2. Phonological Awareness Training
Children with Dyslexia commonly show deficits in phonological skills – the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds in spoken and written language (2). These skills directly impact reading and spelling abilities, as children may struggle to identify parts of words (rhymes, blends, syllables etc.). Therefore, phonological awareness training is crucial as it builds foundational skills by helping children recognize and manipulate the sounds in words. Targeted training can improve the ability to decode words, leading to more fluent and confident reading.
3. Speech-to-Text/Text-to-Speech
Speech-to-Text and Text-to-Speech technologies assist children with dyslexia in both reading and writing. Text-to-Speech, a tool reading digital text aloud, helps students follow along and understand content without struggling to decode every word. This allows students to access grade-level materials with ease and hence bridges the gap between reading skills and content understanding. A widely used online Text-to-Speech tool is Speechify. Meanwhile, Speech-to-Text tools allow students to dictate their thoughts, bypassing the challenges of spelling and writing. This allows children to express themselves without being limited by their reading or writing challenges.
4. Audiobooks
Audiobooks provide a valuable resource for children with Dyslexia by allowing them to access the content of books with ease. This can make it easier to enjoy literature, keep up with reading assignments, and build vocabulary without the frustration of decoding. Research have shown that audiobooks not only improve comprehension and reading accuracy, but also help children to increase their motivation and involvement in school activities (3). Thanks to audiobooks, children can build a love for reading, as they can follow along with complex stories that may be otherwise challenging.
5. Decodable Books
Decodable books are designed with a focus on phonetic patterns, allowing children to practice reading and learn to decode words by using words that align with their phonics level. Improving the ability to recognize words ability then allows young readers to focus more on text comprehension (4). Unlike standard books, which often contain complex words that may not follow predictable patterns, decodable books gradually reinforce the phonics rules children are learning, boosting their confidence and fluency. This provides opportunities for success, which is a great motivation for beginning readers facing challenges due to Dyslexia.
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This month we’re here not only to bust common myths, but also to share helpful tools and resources, recommend books, and highlight the strengths of dyslexia. Stay tuned for more posts! For more content make sure to follow our Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin.
Resources:
(1) Okray, Z., Jacob, P.F., Stern, C. et al. Multisensory learning binds neurons into a cross-modal memory engram. Nature 617, 777–784 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06013-8
(2) Peters, L., Op de Beeck, H., & De Smedt, B. (2020). Cognitive correlates of dyslexia, dyscalculia, and comorbid dyslexia/dyscalculia: Effects of numerical magnitude processing and phonological processing. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 107, 103806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103806
(3) Milani, A., Lorusso, M. L., & Molteni, M. (2010). The effects of audiobooks on the psychosocial adjustment of pre-adolescents and adolescents with dyslexia. Dyslexia, 16(1), 87–97. https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.397
(4) Cheatham, J. P. and Allor, J. H. (2012) The influence of decodability in early reading text on reading achievement: a review of the evidence. Reading and Writing, 25.9, pp. 2223–2246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-011-9355-2
