The sooner a child with dyslexia is identified and receives appropriate instruction, the better the outcome:
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- A child who can't read on grade level by 3rd grade is four times less likely to graduate by age 19 than a child who does read proficiently by that time. (Robert Balfanz, Johns Hopkins University study, 2011)
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- Poor readers were three times more likely than typical readers to consider or attempt suicide, and six times more likely to drop out of school. (Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center study, 2006)
For a summary of the research in this area, see "Waiting Rarely Works: Late Bloomers Usually Just Wilt."
Because many schools do not yet provide the kind of instruction students with dyslexia need, many parents pursue outside help for their child. Some parents hire a tutor, while others work directly with their child. Factors to consider when making this decision are your financial resources, your child's willingness to work with you, and your ability to learn and use the necessary materials.
The type of instruction most dyslexics benefit from is called Structured Literacy. Structured Literacy approaches systematically and sequentially teach the sounds and symbols of our language. To learn more about characteristics of Structured Literacy, see the International Dyslexia Association's Structured Literacy fact sheet.
If you are seeking tutoring for your child, we recommend considering tutors who are trained in these approaches and use them with high fidelity:
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- Orton Gillingham
- Linguistic Phonics (also known as Speech to Print)
- Structured Word Inquiry
Decoding Dyslexia Iowa maintains a list of Iowa tutors who use Structured Literacy approaches. Contact us and we'd be happy to send it to you. We maintain it as a resource for Iowans, but we do not endorse any specific individual, organization, or program on the list. We do not have a financial relationship with any individual or organization on the list, and we do not benefit financially from making referrals. Every child with dyslexia is different! We recommend researching tutors and approaches before hiring someone to work with your child.
Tutoring prices can vary greatly based on a variety of factors, including location and tutor qualifications. If you cannot afford tutoring, please see our Homeschooling page for curriculum ideas to use when working with your own child.