International Dyslexia Awareness Day

On October 8, the world celebrates International Dyslexia Awareness Day. Here at Therapy Tree Services, we are deeply dedicated to offering assistance to individuals with dyslexia and utilizing our platform to raise awareness. To mark this important day, we are chatting with Marissa Hicks, a speech-language pathologist and dyslexia specialist. Together, we will explore the intersection of speech therapy and dyslexia, while dispelling common myths surrounding this learning difference. Let's delve right in! 

 Q: How do speech and dyslexia overlap? 

Dyslexia and speech overlap in different ways. Children with dyslexia may have difficulty with word retrieval and pronunciation of multisyllabic words, making it difficult for them to communicate or be understood. Conversely, speech sound errors (e.g. sound substitutions) can impact how a child decodes and reads.

Q: What are the differences in receiving dyslexia therapy from a speech-language pathologist versus a tutoring or reading program? 

Dyslexia is a language-based disorder, and who better to treat a language based disorder than a speech language pathologist that is specifically trained in literacy therapy?! A tutor or reading program can also be a great option, but a major difference is insurance coverage! Speech language pathologists have the ability to bill insurance for services, whereas, with tutors a family pays out of pocket for all expenses. 

Q: Can you tell us about the program(s) you use and what is entailed in the evaluation and treatment process?  

I have completed training to use the Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program for Reading, Spelling, and Speech (LiPS) and Seeing Stars, both from the Lindamood Bell company. Both treatment programs utilize a multisensory approach to improve phonological processing skills, decoding, and spelling! 

For evaluations, I use a battery of assessments to evaluate receptive and expressive language, articulation, phonological processing skills, reading comprehension, and written expression. Testing sessions last anywhere from 2-5 hours and can be broken down into shorter testing sessions if needed. After testing, all the information is gathered and analyzed to determine if your child presents with dyslexia. 

Q: What symptoms may a child exhibit if they have dyslexia? 

You may notice some or all of the following in your child: 

-difficulty reading at grade level 

-difficulty spelling 

-difficulty identifying and recalling letters and their sounds 

-writing letters or numbers backward

-difficulty expressing themselves (e.g. word retrieval, pronunciation, etc.) 

Q: True or False - People with dyslexia always read and write backward. 

False! Although this is a symptom I see fairly often, it is not true for all people with dyslexia. 

Q: True or False - Children almost always outgrow dyslexia without interventions. 

False! Early intervention is key to improving phonological, reading, and writing skills. Unfortunately, dyslexia does not just “go away”, but with the right support, your child can stay on track with academics! 

Q: True or False - Dyslexia cannot be diagnosed in young children. 

False! Children can be diagnosed with dyslexia as early as kindergarten. If your child is of reading age and is experiencing difficulty learning to read compared to their peers, early intervention is key! 

Q: What should a family do if they have concerns that their child may have dyslexia? 

If you suspect your child may be showing signs of dyslexia, don't hesitate to contact Therapy Tree Services. Our dedicated administrative team is always ready to address any concerns you may have about the evaluation process, available treatment options, scheduling appointments, and understanding insurance coverage. Our experienced therapists will collaborate with your family to establish suitable and achievable objectives aimed at supporting your child's progress in the areas of reading and writing.