 There are several conditions that can occur alongside dyslexia. In the United States dyslexia is treated as an individual learning difference. In the United Kingdom, they have a little bit different perspective and a little bit different model to treat it. Many times giving the students tools to be able to read, helps their dyslexia, and, while reading isn’t necessarily easy after that, they can definitely accomplish it. However, with other children, there may be a variety of other issues that occurs alongside their dyslexia. Each of these may need their own helps, diagnosis or therapies. Neurodevelopmental & Learning DifferencesThese are conditions that commonly co-occur with or overlap dyslexia due to shared cognitive or developmental mechanisms:
Cognitive & Executive Function ChallengesThese aren’t always separate diagnoses but are important correlates that could be shown on your wheel:
Mood-Related Co-Occurring Conditions
While not a learning difference per se, research (including rapid reviews from the University of London) indicates that anxiety and other mental-health challenges are more common in children and youth with dyslexia — in part due to the stress of academic demands and ongoing struggle. Beyond learning-specific disorders, research shows links with emotional and behavioral conditions:
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These tools may help YOU help your student in their reading goals.
We've used these in our group classes and found them very helpful. https://amzn.to/496FRCv They are writable playing cards. We mainly use them in our tutoring sessions to review letter shapes & sounds + additional phenomes. We do this at the start of EVERY tutoring session. We recommend bold (using a thick poster marker) lowercase letters on one side and the sounds (even pictures) on the other. Alternatively, they'd make great vocabulary cards!!
Are your kids struggling to hear the sounds coming out of their own mouths? That makes learning to read even more challenging. Let’s help them with a tool like a whisper phone. https://amzn.to/4jsLPAP
These little (big) cards have been a great help to our students. https://amzn.to/4nXun93 We use them to teach & review vocabulary words (curated from their word lists). Comprehension is one of the skills we intensively focus on - for students the need the help. We have students write (or we write) the word on one side and the definition with a picture on the other. Discussing the definition and drawing the picture really helps them remember!! They keep them in their binder and review at home each day and during sessions.
*Amazon affiliate or other links may earn a small commission to the holder. Thanks for helping us encourage literacy!
When Reading Struggles and Attention Issues Overlap: Understanding ADHD in Children With Dyslexia1/21/2026  If your child has dyslexia and also shows signs of inattention, impulsivity, or difficulty sitting still, it’s natural to wonder whether ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) might also be part of the picture. You’re not alone — the two conditions frequently occur together, and understanding both can help you support your child more effectively.
What Does the Overlap Look Like? Dyslexia and ADHD are distinct conditions — one affects language processing and reading, the other affects attention and behavior — but they share certain features such as:
Other studies show that children with both dyslexia and ADHD have measurable weaknesses in areas like naming speed and phonological awareness — cognitive skills important for reading — compared with children with only one condition.  Flip Countdown Timer How Is ADHD Evaluated? ADHD is not diagnosed with a single lab test. Instead, professionals use comprehensive evaluations based on behavior patterns over time and across environments (home, school, play). Common parts of an ADHD evaluation:Standardized rating scales:
Teacher reports: These help establish whether symptoms are present in school settings as well as at home. A full evaluation helps rule out other causes (such as anxiety, sleep problems, learning differences like dyslexia, or sensory issues), ensures an accurate diagnosis, and informs intervention planning.  Visual Timer What can I do if ADHD might be present? Educational & Home Strategies
Behavioral Supports
Evidence from clinical trials shows that treating ADHD symptoms significantly improves attention and behavior, and when paired with reading instruction, helps children make better academic progress than reading support alone. Combined ADHD + Reading Interventions If your child has both dyslexia and ADHD, research shows that addressing each condition separately — ADHD treatment to support attention and dyslexia-specific reading instruction — leads to the best outcomes.  Under Chair Foot Bands Are there any tools to help my struggling reader with ADHD?
If you suspect your child might have ADHD alongside dyslexia, it’s worth discussing with your pediatrician, school psychologist, or licensed evaluator. Getting a formal evaluation helps ensure your child receives the supports and accommodations they need at school and at home.
With accurate identification, thoughtful strategies, and consistent support, children with both dyslexia and ADHD can thrive academically and emotionally. If you'd like help from DyslexiaTutor.net, just ask! If your child struggles with reading, he may have dyslexia. If he also struggles with writing tasks — messy handwriting, slow output, poor spelling, fatigue, or frustration with writing sentences — you might be hearing the term dysgraphia. Let’s walk through what that means, how it’s identified, and what you can do to support your child.  What Is Dysgraphia? Dysgraphia is a neurological learning difference that affects a child’s ability to write — not because they aren’t trying, but because the brain has difficulty planning, organizing, and executing the fine motor and language skills involved in written expression. Here's a great video to describe the root issues with dysgraphia. Writing is a complex skill that requires:
Children with dysgraphia may have trouble with:
Importantly, dysgraphia can occur alone or with dyslexia — and many children have both, because writing and reading draw on overlapping language and memory systems in the brain.  How Is Dysgraphia Different from Dyslexia? They can often co-occur, but they are distinct.
In simple terms: a child can read relatively well but still find writing physically and cognitively challenging — and vice versa.
 Can my child be cured of dysgraphia? There’s no “cure” for dysgraphia — but with the right supports your child can learn strategies that make writing more manageable and even enjoyable. Classroom and School Supports
 How Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Overlap Because both dyslexia and dysgraphia involve written language, they often interact:
Seeing your child struggle with writing — especially when you know they can think and speak in rich, complex ways — can be heartbreaking. But recognizing dysgraphia for what it is — a neurological learning difference, not laziness or lack of effort — changes everything.
With proper assessment, accommodations, targeted instruction, and supportive technology, children with dysgraphia can express themselves confidently and succeed in school and beyond. If you suspect dysgraphia, your first step is to connect with your child’s school team or an educational specialist and begin an evaluation — early identification gives your child the tools they need to thrive.
1. Dyslexia-Focused Tutors or Reading Specialists These tutors have additional training in dyslexia methods (e.g., Orton-Gillingham, Structured Literacy) and are more experienced with reading intervention. * Dyslexia Tutor Fort Wayne provides tutoring training to adults * 1,400–2,100 general tutoring / therapy hours or 700 supervised clinical hours Typical range: ≈ $50 – $90/hour — often around $60 – $120/hour nationally for trained dyslexia tutors or reading specialists. Ex:
2. Dyslexia Specialists (Certified or Experienced) A dyslexia specialist is trained in language structure and teaching methods that help students with dyslexia learn to read and write better. What they learn:
2–3 years experience or 1 year of graduate study These include educators or therapists with deeper training such as dyslexia certificates or Orton-Gillingham endorsements and more extensive skill sets than basic tutors. Typical range: ≈ $75 – $120/hour, sometimes higher if the specialist has advanced credentials, strong experience, or operates an independent practice. (Professional opinion from practitioners notes rates from about $65+/hour up to $100-$120/hour in some areas.) 3. Classroom Teachers and Reading Interventionists These educators use structured reading programs to support students daily. They often have a specialty or gain advanced education to assist them in the classroom. Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP): ✔ Requires a bachelor’s degree + structured literacy training + practicum Orton-Gillingham Certifications: ✔ Training and certification through groups like the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners & Educators (AOGPE) or IMSLEC-accredited programs. 4–6 years relevant experience or Bachelor’s degree 8–12 total years experience or Master’s degree
4. CALTs are a highly trained group of dyslexia educators. They teach using a very strong, evidence-based approach often rooted in Orton-Gillingham and Structured Literacy. Requirements to become a CALT: ✔ Bachelor’s degree ✔ Master’s degree (required by many programs now) ✔ 200 hours of structured literacy coursework ✔ 700 supervised clinical teaching hours ✔ Pass a national certification exam CALT certification can be equivalent to 10–15 years of progressive experience. CALTs or similar highly trained clinicians represent the top tier of dyslexia intervention. Because they require graduate-level education, extensive practicum hours, and board certification, they typically charge the highest rates. Typical range (national): ≈ $90 – $150+/hour — often $100+ for private practice, with some specialists in urban or high-demand markets charging more.  Are you a passionate reading tutor looking for flexible, home-based work? Imagine growing your tutoring career without worrying about marketing, client acquisition, or scheduling. At Dyslexia Tutor, we’re building a network of skilled dyslexia and reading tutors, and we want you to join us as a subcontractor.
Why Join Our Team?
Many talented tutors struggle to find consistent students or spend hours on marketing instead of teaching. By joining our team, you gain a steady stream of students and can grow your tutoring career without leaving home. It’s the perfect balance of flexibility, professional growth, and meaningful work. Ready to make a difference in students’ lives while working from home? Contact us today to join our network of dyslexia and reading tutors and start teaching from the comfort of your home! “She sobs every time she reads and talks about how stupid she is and that she can’t do it.”
“He gets so frustrated when we’re doing school and after 10 minutes of reading he refuses to read, even if I threaten to ground him.” “I want to yell or cry and can barely control my frustration that everything I do to help him read doesn’t seem to be working.” The above are comments that I hear time and again from parents who come to me, exhausted and disheartened, for help. As a reading tutor, I’ve met a countless number of parents whose children are struggling, and heard so many stories. These parents look dejected and battle weary. They have fought hard. I have so much compassion for these parents who are at their wits end; I don’t want any homeschooling parent to be in that position. Here are my tips for how to teach your child at home. Teach Reading As obvious as this may seem, it is important. I have never met a child who just picked up a book one day and started reading despite no previous knowledge. Reading is not like eating or talking, an instinctual process. Reading and writing are communication tools or technology that must be learned. Even very young fluent readers have to be modeled reading by their parents and learn the sounds of letters. Teaching the sound of letters and letter combinations is called phonics. Use Phonics Phonics is the best way to teach reading. If you think back to a one room schoolhouse à la Little House in the Prairie, the teacher taught phonics. The English language has evolved over 1,400 years. Standardized spelling in English has only existed for about 600 years. For this reason, English spelling is not clear or concise at all. There are innumerable studies from cognitive scientists demonstrating that phonics is the indisputable method to teach reading. Some children easily pick up on the subtle rules of English phonics but others need to be taught those rules. There are many curriculums that use phonics to teach reading. Sing, Spell, Read & Write, Hooked on Phonics, and Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons are my favorites, but there are a myriad of amazing programs to try. If a certain program isn’t working for your child, even if your other children did well with it, don’t be afraid to try others until you find the one that works the best. Make Reading Fun Read stories often to your children, pointing to the words as you read. As you read, ask them questions to test their understanding of the story. Many of my students struggle with comprehension in addition to reading; because they didn’t know how to read, they weren’t able to develop vital comprehension skills. Questions can be short and easy, such as “Why did he do that?” “What do you think he is feeling or thinking?” “What do you think is going to happen next?” Reward reading. Reward your child with screen or play time if they read without complaining or for ten minutes; give prizes if they reach a reading goal, such as reading a paragraph. Sing, Spell, Read & Write and Hooked on Phonics have rewards built into the programs. As hard as teaching is for you, reading is more grueling for your child. It is NOT because your child isn’t smart, or trying. Each child is different and has a different learning style. Your child might already feel inadequate because they compare themselves to other kids. Praise them for trying. Show them their talents in other areas of learning, such as art, music, or engineering. Most importantly, point out their successes instead of their failures. You should correct their mistakes, but not necessarily every mistake every lesson. However, you should applaud or affirm every word or sentence that they read correctly. Resist Discouragement Hopelessness is most destructive to your teaching and your child’s learning. If you lose hope that your child will become a fluent reader, or even become a better reader, your child will be able to detect that sentiment and lose hope as well. Therefore, anything that alleviates frustration or stress and furthers your child’s reading is indispensable. If you start to feel frustrated while teaching, take a break and go do something that rejuvenates you. An important lesson that I learned early in my career was if a child cries, the lesson for the day is over. No child can do the arduous task of learning a difficult skill if they are sobbing. Before they reach that breaking point, and are getting frustrated, take a five minute break from reading and let them do something fun. Ask for Help Teaching a struggling reader is a battle. You need comrades in arms. Ask other homeschool moms for advice or curriculum suggestions. Send your child over to a friend’s house for extra reading practice from a different teacher. Do research. Join online groups with other homeschoolers of struggling readers. Don’t be afraid to contact a specialist to assess, offer tips, or assist you in teaching your child to read if they need extra help. If teaching your child to read seems impossible, it isn’t. The best part of my job is watching my students’ eyes light up when they finally ‘get it’, and after all of their hard work take pride in their accomplishments. This seemingly insurmountable goal is achievable. Take courage. Fight the good fight and finish the course. |
AuthorJenn has been teaching kids with dyslexia in her homeschool and homeschool classes for 24 years and counting. Archives
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