Understanding Dyslexia: More Than Just Flipping Letters
When people hear the word dyslexia, many immediately think of children reversing letters—writing b instead of d or confusing was with saw. While letter reversal can be one small sign, dyslexia is far more complex than that. It’s NOT a matter of laziness or lack of intelligence.
Many children with dyslexia are bright, creative thinkers who learn in unique ways. At our tutoring center, we believe that understanding dyslexia is the first step toward helping every child reach their full potential.
What Is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a specific learning difference that primarily affects a person's ability to read, spell, write, and sometimes speak. It's neurobiological in origin, meaning it stems from how the brain processes language. It’s essential to note that dyslexia is not linked to vision problems or overall intelligence.
The International Dyslexia Association defines dyslexia as a language-based learning disability that results in difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and poor spelling and decoding abilities. These challenges often stem from a deficit in the phonological component of language—the ability to break down words into their basic sound units.
Different Types of Dyslexia
Dyslexia is not a one-size-fits-all condition. It presents differently in different children. Here are some of the common subtypes:
Phonological Dyslexia (Auditory Dyslexia)
This is the most common form. Children struggle to break words into phonemes, making decoding and sounding out unfamiliar words very difficult.Surface Dyslexia (Visual Dyslexia)
Children with surface dyslexia have trouble recognizing whole words by sight. They may do well with phonics but stumble over irregular words that don’t follow typical spelling rules (like “knight” or “laugh”).Rapid Naming Deficit
This subtype involves difficulty quickly naming objects, colors, letters, or numbers. It can slow down reading and make fluent comprehension challenging.Double Deficit Dyslexia
This is when a child has both a phonological deficit and a rapid naming deficit, which often leads to more significant reading difficulties.
Understanding these types helps educators and parents pinpoint specific challenges and tailor instruction to meet each child’s needs.
How Dyslexia Affects Learning in Young Children
For young learners, especially those in early elementary school, dyslexia can make the basic tasks of reading and writing feel overwhelming. Some common challenges include:
Difficulty learning the alphabet and letter sounds
Trouble sounding out words or blending sounds
Poor spelling, often inconsistent, and phonetic
Slow, laborious reading with limited comprehension
Avoidance of reading or writing tasks
These struggles can also impact self-esteem. A child who constantly sees their peers moving ahead may begin to feel “less than” or fear school altogether. Without intervention, these challenges can extend into other subjects, as reading is the foundation of most academic learning.
What About Numbers?
While dyslexia affects reading and language skills, dyscalculia is a learning difference that impacts a child’s ability to understand and work with numbers. Often called "math dyslexia," dyscalculia can cause difficulty with number sense, memorizing math facts, telling time, and performing calculations. It’s important to recognize that children can have both dyslexia and dyscalculia, or one without the other. At our tutoring center, we screen for both and provide targeted support to address each child’s specific challenges.
How Tutoring Can Help
The good news? With the right support, children with dyslexia can become successful readers and confident learners.
At Grace Place Learning Center, we use evidence-based strategies grounded in a multisensory, structured, and sequential methods for students with dyslexia. Our tutors are trained to recognize the signs and tailor lessons to support each child’s unique learning style.
We are all about meeting your students where they are and pushing them to grow. We want to come alongside you and your students to encourage growth when learning can be really difficult. We emphasize patience, encouragement, and celebrating small wins. Progress may be gradual, but with consistent support, growth is inevitable.
Closing Thoughts
Dyslexia is more than just flipping letters—it’s a learning difference that requires understanding, empathy, and the right tools. By educating ourselves and supporting students with personalized instruction, we can empower children with dyslexia to thrive, not just in reading, but in life.
If you suspect your child may be struggling with dyslexia, dyscalculia, or other learning differences, don’t wait. Early intervention makes a big difference. Grace Place Learning Center is here for you today! We want to help you learn how you can support your child’s journey toward academic confidence.
Need help navigating your child’s learning needs? Contact us today to schedule a consultation or learning assessment.
