Neurodevelopmental & Learning DifferencesThese are conditions that commonly co-occur with or overlap dyslexia due to shared cognitive or developmental mechanisms:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) — some studies show shared traits and overlaps even if genetic correlation with dyslexia is complex.
• Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) (also called specific language impairment) — trouble with understanding/using spoken language and can contribute to reading/spelling difficulties and often appears alongside dyslexia.
• Developmental Coordination Disorder (Dyspraxia) — motor coordination difficulties frequently co-occur with dyslexia.
• Visual and auditory processing difficulties — not primary visual problems but difficulty interpreting visual information (distinct from vision acuity) -or- difficulty processing sound information efficiently, which can interact with phonological challenges in dyslexia.  Both challenge interpreting sensory input that can complicate reading and language tasks.
• Non-verbal learning disorder — affects visual-spatial and motor coordination skills and is sometimes seen with dyslexia.
• Sensory processing disorder — differences in interpreting sensory information can overlap with dyslexia and other learning challenges.

Cognitive & Executive Function ChallengesThese aren’t always separate diagnoses but are important correlates that could be shown on your wheel:

• Working memory difficulties — often linked with reading and math struggles.
• Executive function challenges — such as planning, organization, and task switching can accompany dyslexia.
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - One of the most commonly co-occurring conditions with dyslexia, involving attention, impulsivity, and executive function challenges. We have more information about the overlap of in When Reading Struggles and Attention Issues Overlap: Understanding ADHD in Children With Dyslexia
• Dysgraphia - A specific learning difference affecting writing skills and fine motor control — frequently overlaps with dyslexia. This occurs in quite a few children, and we have more information on our website When Reading and Writing Both Feel Hard: A Parent’s Guide to Dysgraphia 
• Dyscalculia - A difficulty with mathematical reasoning and numeracy — often seen alongside dyslexia. 

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:​

• Anxiety disorders — anxiety is more prevalent among individuals with dyslexia, possibly arising from persistent academic stress.
• Conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) — some studies find higher rates of these in children with dyslexia.
• Mood disorders — like depression or internalizing disorders, which may correlate with learning stress and challenges.

These tools may help YOU help your student in their reading goals.

• Writable Cards
• Whisper Phones
• Finger Highlighter
• Blank Index Cards ​Punched with Ring
• Guided Reading Color Strips

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

1. These are great to hear the sounds they are actually saying
2. They help the student put the sounds together into words, if that's a rough spot for them
3. They also help when transitioning from reading outloud to silently in their heads by helping them gradually reduce the volume coming  out.

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.

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:

• Difficulty concentrating during school tasks
• Avoidance of academic work
• Slower reading progress
• Forgetting instructions or homework

Research supports a comorbidity model where some cognitive weaknesses (like executive function, working memory, or processing speed) may be shared, even if the brain differences for the two conditions are generally unique.
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.

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:

• Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale — Parent and teacher questionnaires that measure attention, hyperactivity, and related behaviors.
• Conners Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scale — Another widely used tool to assess ADHD symptoms through parent and teacher reports.
• ADHD Rating Scale — Measures frequency and severity of core ADHD behaviors based on DSM-5 criteria.

Clinical interview: A psychologist, pediatrician, or psychiatrist gathers developmental history, behavior observations, and symptom patterns.
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.

What can I do if ADHD might be present?
​Educational & Home Strategies

• Break tasks into small, manageable pieces
• Use visual schedules and checklists
• Provide frequent feedback and positive reinforcement
• Allow movement breaks during homework and classwork
• Establish consistent routines

These support executive function and help children stay organized and on task.
Behavioral Supports

• Cognitive-behavioral strategies to build self-monitoring skills
• Parent training to reinforce consistent expectations and routines
• Classroom supports like preferential seating or simplified instructions

Medication (When Appropriate) Stimulant and non-stimulant medications can be effective in reducing core ADHD symptoms in many children, making it easier for them to focus and participate in learning and social activities. Decisions about medication are made carefully, with input from families and medical professionals.
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. 

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:

• Fine motor coordination
• Visual-motor integration (eye-hand coordination)
• Orthographic memory (letter patterns)
• Language organization

All things that can be harder for some learners with dysgraphia.

Children with dysgraphia may have trouble with:

• Letter formation and spacing
• Legibility
• Writing speed
• Spelling within written sentences
• Putting thoughts into written language
• Staying within lines or margins
• Fatigue or frustration during writing tasks

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.

• Dyslexia primarily affects reading and the connection between sounds and written symbols.
• Dysgraphia primarily affects writing mechanics and written expression.

Research shows that the brains of children with dysgraphia and those with dyslexia share some similarities, but also have distinct patterns of neural activity. In some cases their brains work harder or less efficiently to handle written language tasks.
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

• Accommodations like extra time, reduced handwriting demands, or oral responses instead of handwriting
• Assistive technology (speech-to-text, word prediction, typing instead of handwriting)
• Alternative formats for assessments and assignments
  These can be part of an IEP or 504 plan under written expression disabilities.

 Targeted Instruction

• Occupational therapy (OT) to build fine motor strength and coordination
• Structured handwriting programs (like Handwriting Without Tears)
• Explicit spelling instruction and orthographic pattern training
• Graphic organizers to support planning before writing

At Home Strategies

• Frequent short writing tasks rather than long sessions
• Raised lined paper & colored
• Grooved writing sheets 
• Typing practice to build fluency with keyboards
• Use of wide-ruled or graph paper to improve spacing
• Pencil grips (in a variety of models) or adaptive writing tools
• Verbal rehearsal of ideas before writing them down 

How Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Overlap
Because both dyslexia and dysgraphia involve written language, they often interact:

• Spelling difficulties related to dyslexia can worsen writing struggles.
• Poor handwriting can make it harder for a child with dyslexia to express ideas even when they understand them.
• Working memory and processing speed issues seen in dyslexia can contribute to slower writing.

Studies show that although these conditions are distinct, they often co-occur and share brain processing demands — so a holistic evaluation that considers both reading and writing is crucial. 

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:

• Orton-Gillingham–based tutors charging ≈ $65/hour.
• Some reading intervention specialists list $50/hour or $50-$65/hour tiers.

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:

• How language works (sounds, spelling, meaning)
• ​Structured literacy methods
• How to assess and help struggling readers

Many specialists also get extra education and supervised teaching experience.

1. Wilson Reading System offers training utilizing their products. Courses currently run $200-$1,500. https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/professional-learning/ 

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

1. AIM Institute for Learning & Research has 4 courses + an optional practicum to be able to take a certification exam.
   
2. Apple Group has a 2 year program to prepare teachers to pass the CERI certification exam + some parent courses. 
   
3. Institute for Multi-Sensory Education - IMSE very interactive courses using a multi-sensory approach with several paths to certification.
   
4. Lexercise offers courses 1 & 2 are online for parents & teachers. Course 3 is the practicum for the certification. 
5. Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling - LETR offers the Science of Reading certification to teachers.
6. Orton-Gillingham Academy - OGA has in-person and online certification for teachers and parents. 
7. Neuhaus Education Center offers in-person and online certification for teachers and parents. 
   
8. Top 10 Tools for Reading Not requiring a practicum the courses prepare for a KPEERI or  CERI certifications.

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. ​