Multisensory Reading Clinic

Why my child struggles to read?

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If your child struggles to read, has trouble comprehending what he reads, or has difficulty with spelling, it’s essential to find out why—because he may have dyslexia.

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Why doesn’t the school’s traditional reading, writing, and spelling program—the whole-language approach—work for children with dyslexia?

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Children with dyslexia process language differently from their peers. They need more targeted, explicit support than students without language-based difficulties. The whole-language approach, which relies heavily on context clues, guessing, and memorizing words as wholes, often fails them because it does not directly teach the systematic relationships between letters and sounds (phonics). Without strong decoding skills, these children may appear to cope in early grades but fall further behind as texts become more complex.

 

If your child has dyslexia, he requires instruction that is clear, structured, sequential, and multisensory. The most effective approach follows the principles of Structured Literacy (also known as the Orton-Gillingham approach or science-of-reading-based instruction). This method builds skills step by step—from the simplest to the most complex—while engaging multiple senses to strengthen learning and memory.

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Here’s what that instruction should include:

• Explicit, sequential teaching: Concepts are introduced one at a time, clearly explained, and taught from easiest to most difficult (for example, introducing short vowel sounds individually before blending them).

• Multisensory techniques: Lessons engage seeing, hearing, and touching (or kinesthetic movement) simultaneously to reinforce learning through multiple pathways in the brain.

• Active participation: To combat boredom and inattention, use the “I do, we do, you do” method—model the skill, practice it together, then have the child do it independently.

• Understanding the “why”: Since many children with dyslexia are strong thinkers, explain the purpose and rules behind what they’re learning (e.g., the rules for using c, k, or ck and memorable ways to recall them).

• Memory aids and strategies: Provide practical “tricks and tips,” such as rules or mnemonics for short vowel sounds, to help concepts stick.

• Built-in review: Frequent, systematic review prevents forgetting and ensures mastery before moving forward.

• Predictable, distraction-free environment: Lessons should follow a consistent routine so the child knows exactly what to expect, where to start, and what comes next. Minimize distractions to support focus.

• Celebrate progress: Every session should end with a clear sense of achievement. Success must be the goal of every lesson.

 

So, what is the BEST reading instruction for my dyslexic child?

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The gold-standard approach is Structured Literacy delivered through an Orton-Gillingham-based program. This is widely endorsed by the International Dyslexia Association and backed by the science of reading. It is explicit, systematic, cumulative, diagnostic, and multisensory—precisely matching the needs you described.

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Look for instruction delivered by a trained educator, or therapist someone with specific Orton-Gillingham training. Intensity matters—children with dyslexia often benefit from 3–5 sessions per week, at least 45–60 minutes each, especially in the early stages.

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Start by requesting a formal evaluation for dyslexia or specific learning disability from your school or a private specialist. Then advocate for (or supplement with) Structured Literacy instruction. Many parents successfully combine school support with private tutoring or homeschool supplements.

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Your child can become a confident, successful reader with the right approach. Early, targeted intervention makes all the difference—success is absolutely achievable.

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