What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is the most common form of specific learning disorder, also known as SLD. The formal diagnostic term is ‘specific learning disorder with impairment in reading’.

It affects how a person learns to read and spell, and can also impact writing, comprehension, memory and organisation. Dyslexia is not related to intelligence, hearing or vision.

Dyslexia affects at least 10% of people and often runs in families.

Early support can change a child’s life. Our Parent Guide below is an in-depth resource designed to explain more about dyslexia and help you on your journey.

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A parent and child reading a book together

Our Parent Guide

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Know your child’s rights

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Self esteem and self advocacy

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How dyslexia can effect learning

Dyslexia mainly affects:

  • Reading (decoding words)
  • Spelling
  • Writing

It can also impact:

  • Memory and concentration
  • Following instructions
  • Organisation and planning

This can make school feel overwhelming, even for capable and intelligent students.

The importance of self-esteem and self-advocacy

Many children with dyslexia have unique strengths in areas such as creativity, problem-solving and big-picture thinking.

Just as importantly, many dyslexic people go on to achieve great things in education, business, science, the arts and sport.

Recognising these strengths and helping children understand both how they learn best and what they excel at can build confidence, self-esteem and self-advocacy skills.

For more information about self-esteem and self-advocacy, click the button above.

"Researchers estimate that 95% of children can be taught to read by the end of first grade, with future achievement constrained only by their reasoning and listening abilities.

- Dr Louisa Moats

Diagnosing dyslexia

Getting a diagnosis can help you better understand your child’s learning needs and access the right support.

If you have concerns about your child, start by speaking with their teacher. You may discuss a referral to psychologist or speech pathologist for an assessment. These professionals can diagnose dyslexia and other SLDs — teachers cannot provide a formal diagnosis.

It’s important to choose a clinician with experience assessing dyslexia. Some clinicians may want to see evidence that your child has received targeted, evidence-based instruction (such as structured literacy) before completing an assessment.

It's a good idea to discuss this with the clinician before booking an assessment, including what information or evidence they may need from the school.

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More on diagnosing dyslexia

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Find support

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Referral pathways

The referral pathway may vary depending on your child’s school so it's best to check what they recommend:

Government schools
Referrals are made by school staff. Parents provide consent.

Catholic schools
Some schools have in-house specialists. Others may apply for funding for private assessments.

Independent schools
Some offer access to specialists, while others may guide you to private assessments.

Private assessments
Families can also choose to arrange a private assessment.

Before booking ask about costs, check whether the report will be accepted by your child’s school, and confirm the clinician’s experience with dyslexia.

You may need to share school reports and learning plans with the clinician and provide the final report back to the school.