Does Dyslexia Ever Go Away? How to Diagnose and Treat Dyslexia

Dyslexia Support & Awareness

There can be relief in finally getting a dyslexia dignosis for your child. Many parents wonder for years whether their child’s reading challenges are typical or indicative of a disability.

At the same time, it can be a lot to take in. Navigating the research, resources and support available for chlidren with dyslexia might feel overwhelming. Once you know your child has dyslexia, you want to act! It’s  common to have many questions and wonder what treatments and approaches work best for kids with dyslexia.

When parents come to The Reading School, they often wonder: Is there a best treatment, or cure, for dyslexia? Does it ever go away on its own or through treatment?

Dyslexia Is Not a Disease

The answer is: no. Dyslexia isn’t a disease, so it can’t be “cured.” 

Dyslexia is a learning disability that, among other symptoms, causes difficulty in understanding the relationships between symbols (letters) and sounds. Kids with dyslexia grow up to be adults with dyslexia, just as kids with brown eyes grow up to be adults with brown eyes.

Through the challenges they face with language and the out-of-the-box strategies they use to succeed, people with dyslexia often develop exceptional creativity and other skills they employ not just to read but to excel in sports, business, the arts and sciences. 

How Is Dyslexia Diagnosed?

There’s no one “portrait” of dyslexia. Every child with dyslexia has a different experience and different challenges and strengths. Dyslexia symptoms and experiences also exist on a spectrum, as is the case with many learning disabilities.

Differences aside, it’s generally understood that earlier assessment and intervention smoothes the path to reading success for those with dyslexia.

No one test can diagnose dyslexia but several factors are considered, including:

• a psycho-educational evaluation of phonological, phonics, decoding, reading and writing skills
• academic testing and reading skill assessments
• vision, hearing and other tests to rule out other disorders
• your child’s medical, educational and personal history

How to Get a Psychoeducational Assessment

A dyslexia diagnosis requires an assessment by a psychologist. You may choose your own private psychologist. Some insurance companies will cover some psycho-educational costs; speaking to your family doctor can be a great place to start.

Find a psychologist to perform a psychoeducational assessment here.

A psychoeducational assessment can also be done through the school board’s psychological services department. Speaking to your child’s teacher and the school administration is the best place to start. Be persistent. There are often long waiting periods for psychological assessments in the school system.

The Best Treatment for Dyslexia

Dyslexia can look different in different learners, but all kids with dyslexia can learn skills to support their reading and become successful students. 

After your child receives a diagnosis of dyslexia, they will usually receive an Independent Education Plan and be designated as having “exceptional” learning needs that warrant extra resources and instruction. That may mean working individually or in a small group with a dedicated teacher.

Sometimes, the resources offered in school don’t result in sufficiently fast progress for a child to “catch up” to succeed at their grade level. Your child’s teacher needs to understand their individual challenges and also be able to provide systematic, science-based reading instruction. In many cases, private instruction of this systematic, structured literacy approach can be a faster route to getting your child reading confidently.

Dyslexia isn’t a disease, and it can’t be cured. People with dyslexia simply face a particular challenge with the development of reading skills. Kids with dyslexia can and do lead successful lives, and can pursue any academic goals with the support of a solid structured literacy program and a parent like you who cares!

Are you currently seeking or have you recently received a diagnosis of dyslexia for your child? Private or school route? Share your experience  below!