Not low intelligence
Dyslexic kids are often bright, creative, and verbal. Reading difficulty isn’t a measure of intelligence.
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Not sure where to start? Start here.
Whatever your child’s age and wherever you are in the process, this guide walks you through it, one step at a time. Pick where you are below.
Stage 01 · Recognize the signs
Do you suspect your child is dyslexic?
First, what dyslexia actually is, then the early signs, which look different at each age.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a lifelong language-processing disorder that affects reading, spelling, and writing. It’s caused by differences in how the brain develops, specifically, difficulty connecting letters with their corresponding sounds.
A good deep dive (Cleveland Clinic) ↗- Difficulty rhyming words
- Trouble learning or remembering the alphabet
- Mispronouncing familiar words persistently
- Difficulty learning nursery rhymes or songs
- Struggling to sequence (days of the week, colors, numbers in order)
- Slow vocabulary development compared to peers
- Difficulty following multi-step directions
- Cannot match letters to sounds (phonics)
- Reads very slowly and with great effort
- Guesses at words based on the first letter rather than sounding out
- Avoids reading aloud or refuses to read
- Confuses similar-looking letters (b/d, p/q)
- Trouble spelling even simple, familiar words
- Complains of headaches or stomach aches on school mornings
- Reading significantly below grade level despite effort
- Avoids any activity involving reading or writing
- Acting out or withdrawing in class, often mislabeled as a behavior problem
- Says “I’m stupid” or “I can’t do it”, begins to internalize failure
- Strong verbal skills but struggles with written work
- Reads slowly, or skips small words or parts of words when reading aloud
- Often searches for words, or uses substitutes (“gate” instead of “fence”)
- Trouble “getting” jokes, or understanding idioms, puns, and abbreviations
- Takes a very long time to finish reading assignments
- Finds it much easier to answer questions about text that’s read aloud
- Feeling anxious, depressed, or angry
- Withdrawing from school entirely
These are some of the more common signs, every child is different, and they can vary a lot. One or two doesn’t confirm dyslexia, but a cluster is worth acting on.
What dyslexia is not
Not laziness
They’re working harder than their peers, not less. The effort just isn’t showing up on the page.
Not something they’ll grow out of
Without the right instruction it doesn’t resolve on its own. Early support changes the trajectory.
Not caused by screens
Dyslexia is neurological and hereditary, not a result of screen time or how much a child reads.
Not a vision problem
It’s about how the brain connects sounds to letters, not how the eyes see them.
Stage 02
Talk to the school
The questions that get you real answers, and put the school on notice.
- 01
Has the school done a reading assessment?
Under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states must measure reading and give you the results in a format you can understand.
- 02
Has my child been screened for dyslexia?
Many states are required by law to screen, check whether yours is.
- 03
Does the school use a structured literacy curriculum?
Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading, or another science-of-reading–aligned program.
structured literacy
A way of teaching reading that explicitly and systematically teaches the structure of language, sounds, spelling patterns, and syntax. Methods like Orton-Gillingham and Wilson are the approach proven to work for dyslexic readers.
Learn more ↗ - 04
What early intervention is available right now, at this grade level?
- 05
Can we schedule a full evaluation, and what does that process look like?
Put this request in writing, it starts the 60-day clock under IDEA.
- 06
What does an IEP look like for a child with reading difficulties?
IEP
An Individualized Education Plan, a legally binding document that spells out the special education, accommodations, and goals a public school must provide. A strong one names the reading method, the hours of service, and how progress is measured.
Learn more ↗
Stage 03
If the school says “wait and see”
It isn’t a legal answer. Here’s what the law actually gives you.
IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the federal law guaranteeing a free, appropriate public education. It requires a school to evaluate a child when a parent requests it, within 60 days.
Learn more ↗
IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the federal law guaranteeing a free, appropriate public education. It requires a school to evaluate a child when a parent requests it, within 60 days.
Learn more ↗Schools are legally required to evaluate when a parent requests it, within a 60-day window. “Wait and see” is not a legal response to a written request.
Section 504
Even without IEP eligibility, your child may qualify for accommodations, extra time, audiobooks, and more.
Prior Written Notice (PWN)
Any school decision must be provided in writing. Always ask for refusals in writing.
Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)
If you disagree with the school’s evaluation, you have the right to an IEE at public expense. Most parents don’t know this exists.
See a sample IEE letter ↗Stage 04
Request the evaluation in writing
Putting it in writing starts the 60-day clock. Copy this, fill in the brackets, and send it.
Dear [Principal / Special Education Director], I am writing to formally request a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation for my child, [Name], currently in [Grade] at [School Name]. I believe they may have dyslexia and/or a related learning disability impacting their academic progress. I am requesting this evaluation under IDEA. I understand the school has 60 days to complete the evaluation. Please confirm receipt in writing. Sincerely, [Your Name], [Date]
Stage 05
If public school isn’t enough
You have options, and ways to make them affordable.
The private neuropsychological evaluation
A comprehensive assessment by a neuropsychologist of how your child learns, processes, and reads, the most thorough diagnosis available. Often $3,000–$8,000, though there are ways to reduce the cost.
Learn more ↗
neuropsychological evaluation
A comprehensive assessment by a neuropsychologist of how your child learns, processes, and reads, the most thorough diagnosis available. Often $3,000–$8,000, though there are ways to reduce the cost.
Learn more ↗A private neuropsychological evaluation is the gold standard, a comprehensive report that’s powerful to bring to IEP meetings. It typically costs $3,000–$8,000, but there are ways to bring that down.
Ways to reduce the cost:
- IEE at public expense
- University training clinics (reduced fee)
- Insurance (refer through your pediatrician)
- Parent Training & Information (PTI) Centers, free, in every state
If your school can’t provide what your child needs, seek outside support
Private tutoring
Look for tutors certified in Orton-Gillingham or Wilson, the structured-literacy methods proven to work.
Advocates & attorneys
An educational advocate or special-education attorney can level the playing field in IEP meetings.
Specialized schools
Investigate specialized private schools or programs built for dyslexic learners.
A community of parents
Imagine Reading’s growing community and parent groups, you don’t have to do this alone.
“Our son’s kindergarten teacher told us he was “just a boy” and would settle down. He was hitting other kids because he couldn’t make sense of the page, and nobody was connecting the behavior to the reading. Once we understood that, everything changed.”
“We went to three IEP meetings before we understood what we were allowed to ask for. The school wasn’t being malicious, they just knew we didn’t know our rights. Once we walked in with the right language, everything shifted.”
Trusted resources
We’re a connector, these are trustworthy places to learn more, with a note on what each one is best for.
- Understood.org ↗ Plain-language guides on dyslexia, evaluations, and your rights.
- Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity ↗ The science of dyslexia, and a strengths-based view of it.
- International Dyslexia Association ↗ Dyslexia legislation by state, see who’s required to screen.
- Early Literacy Matters ↗ A state-by-state map of literacy policy.
- ExcelinEd ↗ State-by-state reports on reading-law implementation.
- Decoding Dyslexia ↗ For parents who want to advocate for policy in their state.
- Left Behind ↗ The documentary and its resource library.
Books we recommend
A few that genuinely helped us. Find them at your local library or on Bookshop.
- Overcoming Dyslexia ↗
The clearest overview of dyslexia, from the founder of the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity.
- Dyslexia Advocate! ↗
A straightforward guide to understanding US law and getting the right educational entitlements for your child.
- Fish in a Tree ↗
A wonderful one to read with your child, Ally, a bright sixth-grader, hides her dyslexia until a teacher finally sees her.