Dyslexia

Progressive Pediatric Therapy • October 26, 2021

Written By: Cassandra Hicks, M.A., CCC-SLP

A young girl is sitting on the floor reading a book.

Learning to read isn’t an automatic process. Reading and writing is a multi-disciplinary skill that can take years of instruction and practice to perfect. In the minds of practiced readers, seeing a written word activates both the semantic association (the picture in your mind) and the phonological association (how to pronounce it) of that word in your brain. That is a lot of things happening at once! As children learn to read, this process typically becomes faster and more efficient with time.

A diagram showing the written word dog and semantic representation

What is Dyslexia?

For kids with dyslexia, these associations may not occur as quickly or as efficiently. Dyslexia is estimated to affect as many as 1 in 5 children and can present challenges with reading comprehension, vocabulary growth, and writing. For some children, letters may be “read backwards” like reading a “b” as a “d”, but this is not the case for every child. Dyslexia is also not a sign of low intelligence, but rather specific challenges with reading and writing that are not also seen in that child’s oral language skills. 

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that includes difficulties with:

  1. Word recognition
  2. Spelling
  3. Decoding

People with dyslexia may also have difficulty with phonological awareness . Tasks for phonological awareness include:

  • Identifying rhyming words
    • “Do the words “cat” and “bat” rhyme?”
  • Deciding whether words start with the same sound
    • “Do the words “cat” and “cape” start with the same sound?”
  • Breaking a multi-syllable word into parts
    • “The word banana has three parts. What are they?”
  • Blending sounds together to create a new word
    • “What word do the sounds “ah” and “pull” make?” (apple)
  • Deleting sounds from a word 
    • “Say “dog”, now say “Dog” without the “duh” sound.” 

How is dyslexia treated?

Children with dyslexia often benefit the most from explicit teaching of phonemic awareness and phonics rules. A specialist can help your child make the connections between the written letter and its sound, promote fluency during reading to improve speed, and teach other concepts like “silent -e”. Children with dyslexia often also benefit from a multi-sensory approach (incorporating sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing). By using this technique, children are able to make connections in many different parts of their brain, rather than just one.

Want to try some activities like this at home? Have your child draw letters in shaving cream or use scrabble tiles to creating rhyming words. 

I think my child may have dyslexia, now what?

Symptoms of dyslexia usually become most apparent in kindergarten or first grade, when your child begins receiving reading instruction in school. Diagnosing dyslexia involves a multi-disciplinary team that typically includes a speech-language pathologist, educational psychologist, and medical doctor. A number of assessments can be given to identify strengths and weaknesses in your child’s language skills. Speak with your child’s doctor, school, or contact us to schedule an evaluation with a Speech Language Pathologist to get this process started.

The post Dyslexia appeared first on PPT4Kids.

The Power of the Pen: Why Cursive Handwriting Still Matters

By Aimee Brueck • August 21, 2026
In a world filled with screens, typing, and digital learning, handwriting — especially cursive — is becoming less common in many classrooms. Yet handwriting remains one of the most powerful tools for learning. Writing by hand connects movement, memory, and meaning in ways that typing simply cannot. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Cursive Handwriting Program helps children strengthen the physical and cognitive skills behind writing while rediscovering the joy of putting pen to paper.

Helping Kids Move with Confidence: Supporting Strength, Coordination, and Active Play

By Aimee Brueck • August 18, 2026
In today’s technology-driven world, many children are moving less than previous generations. While screens and busy schedules can make life easier in some ways, they also mean fewer opportunities for children to build the movement skills their bodies need. Parents often notice when movement feels harder for their child — whether it’s riding a bike, keeping up with peers, or participating in active play. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Movement Wellness Visit helps families understand how movement supports development and provides simple, realistic ways to build strength, coordination, and confidence through everyday play.

Understanding Your Child’s Movement and Sensory Style: Supporting Sensorimotor Development

By Aimee Brueck • August 14, 2026
Every child experiences the world in their own unique way. Some children love to climb, jump, and explore everything around them, while others prefer quieter activities or take longer to warm up to new types of play. For parents, it can sometimes be difficult to know whether these differences are simply personality or signs that a child may need extra support. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Sensorimotor Wellness Visit helps families better understand how their child moves, explores, and processes the world — while providing practical strategies to support healthy development through play and everyday routines.

Growing Up Bilingual: Supporting Language Development in Multilingual Families

By Aimee Brueck • August 4, 2026
Many families today raise children in homes where more than one language is spoken. While this is a wonderful gift, it can also bring questions and concerns about speech and language development. Parents often wonder if learning multiple languages will confuse their child or delay speech. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Bilingual Language Wellness Visit helps families understand what typical bilingual development looks like and provides practical strategies to nurture every language their child speaks with confidence.

Supporting Social-Emotional Wellness in Children

By Aimee Brueck • July 31, 2026
Every child experiences big emotions as they grow. Meltdowns, worries, sensory sensitivities, and difficulty with transitions are all part of learning how to navigate the world. For many parents, however, it can be hard to know what’s typical and when extra support might help. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Social-Emotional Wellness Visit helps families better understand their child’s emotional development and provides practical strategies to support regulation, confidence, and calmer daily routines.

ADHD, Dyslexia, and Visual Processing in Children

July 29, 2026
Many children with ADHD and dyslexia also have overlooked vision problems that make focus and reading harder. A 2026 research review examined whether virtual reality vision therapy for ADHD and dyslexia can help. Here is what the evidence shows, written for both parents and therapists, from the team at Progressive Pedi
Autism and Motor Skills: What New Exercise Research Shows

Autism and Motor Skills

By Aimee Brueck • July 24, 2026
A 2026 meta-analysis found structured exercise produced large gains in motor skills in autistic children. Here's what it means for parents and therapists.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Expressive Grammar in Preschoolers

By Aimee Brueck • July 21, 2026
New research shows AAC can help young children build sentences, not just point to single words
Person in a motorized exoskeleton using a kiosk in a hospital hallway

Supported Standing For Head & Trunk Control

By Mary B. Pengelley, PT, DPT, ATP • July 18, 2026
Chapter 1: Why Do Some Children Use Standers?

Mealtime Made Simple: Building Confident Eaters and Calmer Family Tables

By Aimee Brueck • July 10, 2026
For many families, mealtime can feel more stressful than enjoyable. Parents often worry when their child suddenly refuses foods they used to love or insists on eating only a small handful of familiar items. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we understand how confusing and frustrating picky eating can feel. Our Feeding & Mealtime Wellness Visit helps families turn mealtime struggles into calm, confident routines where children can explore food without pressure and parents can feel supported.