Audio Verson

When many people think about dyslexia, they think about reading. That is part of it, but dyslexia is often more than reading.

Dyslexia can affect how a person reads words, spells, and writes. It can also come with what I sometimes call “hitchhikers.” These are other areas that may be harder for some learners with dyslexia. Not every child has the same struggles, but many children need support in more than one area.

Some children with dyslexia may also have difficulty with:

Writing

A child may know great ideas in their head but have a hard time getting them onto paper. Writing can feel slow, tiring, and frustrating.

Spelling

Even when a student is bright and works hard, spelling may not come easily. They may forget patterns they just practiced or spell the same word differently in one assignment.

Oral Language

Some children may have trouble finding the right word, telling a story in order, or explaining their thinking clearly.

Working Memory

Working memory helps us hold information in our mind while we use it. A child may forget multi-step directions, lose track of what they are doing, or need extra reminders.

Organization and Executive Functioning

Some learners may struggle to get started, plan their work, manage time, or keep up with materials. This is not laziness. These skills can be hard for them and often need to be taught step by step.

That is why it is so important to look at the whole learner, not just one reading score.

A child with dyslexia may be smart, creative, funny, caring, and full of good ideas. At the same time, they may be working much harder than others to do everyday school tasks. When adults only look at reading, they can miss the bigger picture.

The good news is that support can help.

Structured literacy, explicit teaching, and the right accommodations can make a real difference. Children may also need support with writing, language, organization, and confidence. When we understand the full picture, we can give better help.

A Helpful Next Step

If your child or student has dyslexia, ask yourself:

Are they only struggling with reading, or are there other “hitchhikers” showing up too?

Start by noticing patterns. Do they avoid writing? Forget directions? Have trouble getting started? Lose track of materials? Struggle to explain what they know?

These clues can help you better understand what support is needed.

Dyslexia is real. It can affect more than reading. And when we understand the whole learner, we can help them grow with the right tools, the right teaching, and the right support.