Top 5 best dyslexia parent resources – what every parent needs to know

Are you looking for the best tools and resources for dyslexia? Here is everything you need to know. Many famous scientists have been working on ways to overcome reading problems such as Sally Shaywitz, and there are a few incredible methods that will help. 

What parents should know about dyslexia

Dyslexia is a reading disorder, and it can affect people regardless of their age. And while there is no specific test that can serve for diagnosis, there are ways a doctor can determine whether your child has dyslexia. 

The reason why this is important is that dyslexia, as well as other learning disabilities (ADHD, dysgraphia, and others), can affect your child’s progress in school. They won’t be as effective during classes, and they might struggle. 

So, the best course of action would be to act as soon as you spot signs of dyslexia. 

What can parents do to help their child with dyslexia?

It is essential for parents to be supportive and try to help their children in any way they can. In the majority of cases, dealing with dyslexia will take time. It is a lot of work, but it can be achieved. 

You can also check out different learning methods, tools, and ways to make the situation a bit simpler. There are various therapies and tools that can improve reading skills, but the most important thing is support. 

Dyslexia can have a negative effect on your child’s self-esteem and mental health, which is why it is crucial for you to stay on their side and be patient. Whether we talk about kids going to high school or even homeschooling methods, you need to be supportive no matter what. 

Top curriculums for dyslexia

Choosing the best curriculum for dyslexia is not easy. There are so many things to cover and understand. Especially in a public school. And if there are teachers involved, they will need enough time to prepare for the new program. It is not something that can happen overnight. 

But if there is enough time for changes and adjustments, you should go for an education program that is designed to motivate students to learn. Even if they are struggling readers, there are ways to adjust the reading program and make it more effective. 

Orton-Gillingham

The Orton-Gillingham approach is one of the most popular multi-sensory educational methods you can find today. It was developed in the early 20th century, and it focuses on a multi-sensory approach. 

The idea behind these reading instructions is to break each word into sounds and letters and allow children to understand how words are formed. The method is perfect for smaller groups and one-on-one teaching, and it can prove to be quite successful in overcoming reading difficulties. 

IEP or Individualized Education Programs can help with learning disorders, and they are great for first-grade and older children. 

Phonics approach

Phonemic awareness starts from the beginning, which is the main advantage of the method. While some children can skip the first couple of steps with ease, those with dyslexia will find the method to be more than useful. 

Instead of learning words and letters, children will start with phonemes or sounds behind each letter. After that, they will start understanding the connection between sounds and letters and how each word is built. 

The structured literacy approach

The structured literacy approach is rather similar to the previous two research-based methods, and it allows children to see the connection between sounds and words or letters. It also uses various techniques such as clapping syllables, segmenting words, and so much more. 

The method also includes visual aids, reading, auditory methods, and spelling. And, of course, it has a properly structured progression. With a full understanding of the basics, children will be able to learn better and avoid problems they’d had with traditional methods. 

Top 3 resources for dyslexia

But various evidence-based teaching methods, webinars, and curriculums are not the only way to battle dyslexia. There are also numerous tools and resources children, teachers, and reading specialists can use, and they can be combined with any learning method. 

Using technology is nothing new, and it only shows young children that there are different ways to approach the problem and find a solution. In some cases, audiobooks can be helpful, but they aren’t always available. 

Text to speech

Text to speech apps are accessibility tools or assistive technology that are able to convert text into an AI voice. The most popular TTS tool you can find today is Speechify. The app will work on any platform you can imagine, and it supports numerous languages and accents. 

What makes it so good for dyslexic children is that they won’t need to read on their own. Instead, they just need to start the app, and Speechify will read the text to them. The app is versatile, easy to use, and it will save so much time. Especially for auditory learners. 

Text scanners

A similar idea is with text scanners. There are numerous apps that offer optical character recognition or OCR, and this means that you can scan any type of text and convert it into a digital format. 

One of many options are reading pens or pen scanners, and they are able to convert the text into an AI voice. It is a combination of text-to-speech and OCR, and you can use the scanner with Speechify and other TTS tools. 

Highlighters

Highlighters are probably the simplest ones on the list since they are sheets of colored plastic. There are highlighters of different sizes, and you can even find larger ones that cover an entire page. 

The reason they are good is that they change the focus and allow children to read a bit easier. The color of the highlighter will change the wavelength, and it will have a different effect on the eyes and brain. 

FAQs

What is the best way to teach a child with dyslexia?

The best way to teach a child with dyslexia is to use one of many verified methods such as the phonetic approach, rhyming, and others. 

Since the child is struggling during classes, it is a clear sign that a change in approach must be made. And there are many different ways to overcome learning differences. 

What are the best dyslexia apps for kids?

The best app for dyslexic kids is Speechify. It can easily convert any type of text into a synthetic voice, allowing children to listen to the text with ease. Speechify can also work on physical pages, and the app is highly versatile. 

What is the best way to help their child?

If you are looking to help your child with their literacy skills, you should know that patience is the key. They need support, and you need to work with them in hope of overcoming dyslexia. It won’t be easy, but you can achieve it with enough dedication. 

It is also important to raise dyslexia awareness, which is something that many institutions have been working on such as Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, International Dyslexia Association, Dyslexiahelp, and other advocacy groups focusing on special education you might know.