DYSLEXIA? SHOULD MY CHILD BE EVALUATED?

What to do if you Suspect a Reading Problem

Dyslexia and other reading problems CAN be resolved especially if a child receives early intervention. If you suspect your child is struggling with dyslexia or other reading problems here is what you can do.

Contact a qualified professional - For parents, your first contact should be the classroom teacher. Make sure you set up an appointment to speak with your child’s teacher, do not corner them on the run.

Generate a specific list of concerns - School meetings can make parents nervous. It is good to have your concerns clearly outlined.

Find out how your child is progressing in reading - Your teacher should provide you with specifics, not generalities. You need objective data demonstrating your child’s reading progress. Parents of children grades K-2 can ask the following questions?

Does my child possess strong phonemic awareness skills?


Can my child quickly identify the names of letters?

Can my child quickly identify the sounds of letters?

Can my child easily read (CVC – Consonant Vowel Consonant) words such as tip, tap, top, net, hen?

Is my child’s reading fluency at grade level? (1st grade students and above)

Exactly how is my child’s reading progress measured?

What are the end of the year expectations for my child’s reading skills?

What type of reading instruction does my child receive? (The type of reading program, the size of group and minutes per day)

What specifically is being done to increase my child's reading fluency?

Another option available for parents in a majority of public schools is something called an Intervention Assistance Team (IAT) - If you have significant concerns about your child’s reading, request an Intervention Assistance Team (IAT) meeting. The intervention assistance team, which typically consists of school staff such as an administrator, guidance counselor, school psychologist, speech and language pathologist and the classroom teacher, can help provide support to a child with any needs related to school.

Some final thoughts! By taking advantage of the information on ReadingResource.net you can quickly become an informed parent. You will know what is acceptable and what is not. Remember, your child is depending on you to advocate for them so it is good to be informed. If your child is experiencing reading difficulty, the worst thing you can do is to do nothing. If your child’s teacher cannot produce the information needed to answer these questions it is time to seek further assistance. Never allow yourself to be talked into waiting. Unlike learning to speak, learning to read does not come naturally. Do not let valuable time pass without a proactive plan in place.

If you have further questions please contact us through the Contact Us Page.

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