10/06/2026
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month 💙
Dyslexia doesn’t always look like a child who “can’t read.”
Some children with dyslexia can read accurately- but it may take more time and effort. Others may struggle more noticeably with sounding out unfamiliar words, spelling, reading smoothly, or developing the automatic word recognition that makes reading feel effortless.
Research shows that dyslexia is most often associated with difficulties in areas such as:
• Accurate and/or efficient word reading
• Spelling
• Phonological processing—the ability to recognize and work with the sounds in spoken language
• Reading fluency
• Reading speed and automaticity
And an important reminder: **dyslexia is not a reflection of intelligence.**
A bright child may have strong vocabulary, reasoning, comprehension, or problem-solving skills while still experiencing significant difficulty with the word-level skills involved in reading and spelling. Some children also develop strategies that help them compensate, which can make their struggles less noticeable- especially when texts are shorter or academic demands are lower.
That’s why it’s worth paying attention not only to *whether* a child can read, but also to **how much effort it takes them to do it.**
Slow, effortful reading, persistent spelling difficulties, avoiding reading aloud, difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words, or needing much more time than expected can all be meaningful clues.
Dyslexia can look different from one child to another. Understanding those differences is an important part of helping every child become a more confident learner.
