What Is a Dyslexia Intervention?

A dyslexia intervention improves reading skills and competency for a person with this condition. This learning disability is often diagnosed in early childhood education, and as a result, most interventions are aimed at children. Adults facing a diagnosis may need to work with a specialist who focuses on adult literacy skills and related topics. The goal of the dyslexia intervention is to help the subject develop and retain skills that will be useful for tasks ranging from keeping up with peers in the classroom to understanding written directions.

One aspect of a dyslexia intervention can involve tutoring to help a student catch up with other members of the class. A specialist can work with the student to develop reading skills, gradually improving both comprehension and speed. Tips and tricks can help students with dyslexia as they learn to read more effectively and efficiently. For example, some find it helpful to use a guiding line while they read to stay on track, while others may benefit from materials presented in different fonts and colors for increased readability.

Dyslexia interventions can also involve multi-sensory education to help children understand and apply concepts. Students with dyslexia may be more comfortable with auditory or tactile learning to demonstrate concepts and acquire knowledge. Oral question and answer sessions with a tutor, for example, could help the student retain information presented in class or in a text. Part of the dyslexia intervention process can include exploration of different teaching and learning styles to find the best fit for a given student.

Adults with dyslexia may lag far behind as a result of struggling during their school years. Dyslexia interventions may include adult literacy education to help people learn to read, as well as remedial tutoring to catch students up on key concepts. Those interested in going back to school to finish a diploma or degree may work with a tutor to increase their comprehension of the topics they study.

Both children and adults with dyslexia can also benefit from accommodations, which may be part of a dyslexia intervention. Therapists can provide information about available accommodations and how to request them. In the workplace, for instance, an employee could ask for a meeting with a supervisor to verbally discuss an employee manual as an alternative to reading the material, to make sure all expectations are fully understood. Likewise, dyslexic students could ask for more time on tests or for a quiet room to study with a tutor and apply techniques like auditory learning that might be disruptive to other members of the class.