Supportive Blogs for Dyslexic Learners

Updated April 2026. When we think about dyslexia, the image that often comes to mind is a child struggling in the classroom. But dyslexia does not disappear at 18. Many adults reach their 30s, 40s, or even beyond before they finally discover that the challenges they have quietly carried for years have a name. An estimated 10% of the UK population has dyslexia, equivalent to more than 6.6 million people. The vast majority reach adulthood without a formal diagnosis. For these

Choosing a dyslexia assessor is not like choosing a plumber. The decision carries real weight. For parents, it often comes after months of worry, school meetings that went nowhere, and a growing sense that something is being missed. For adults, it can follow years of quietly compensating for difficulties they never had a name for. That weight is exactly why what other people say about their experience matters so much. Not marketing copy. Not credentials listed on a webpage. T

When you're searching for a dyslexia assessment, the alphabet soup of acronyms on an assessor's profile can feel more confusing than reassuring. AMBDA, APC, SASC, PATOSS - what do they actually mean, and why should they matter to you? This page cuts through the jargon. It explains exactly what each of Laura Gowers' qualifications and professional memberships means in plain English, why the regulatory bodies behind them exist, and what their presence guarantees about the quali

If you have a nagging feeling that your child's difficulties go beyond the usual bumps of learning to read and write, you are not alone, and you are not overreacting. Dyslexia affects an estimated 1 in 10 people in the UK , yet the majority of children are not identified until well into their primary school years, often after months or years of quietly struggling. The problem is not a lack of caring parents or attentive teachers. It is a lack of specific, age-appropriate info

If you've been searching for dyslexia coaching and found yourself comparing specialist providers with larger neurodiversity organisations, you're asking exactly the right question. The answer matters more than most people realise. Some of the better-known neurodiversity organisations in the UK are well-established, neurodivergent-led, and carry genuine institutional credibility. With large teams of coaches, recognition from bodies including ACAS and the British Psychological

If you’re searching for how to get a dyslexia diagnosis in the UK, you’ve likely already noticed something doesn’t feel quite right. Your child may be bright but struggling with reading. Or you may be an adult who has always found writing, organisation or processing information more difficult than it should be. At some point, the question becomes: “How do I actually get a dyslexia diagnosis?” This guide explains exactly how the process works in the UK and what to do next. Wha

Why is my child guessing words when reading? Children often guess words when decoding feels difficult or effortful. Instead of sounding out each letter, they rely on context clues, pictures or the first letter of a word. This can affect reading accuracy and comprehension, and may indicate underlying difficulties with phonological processing or decoding skills. It is something many parents notice quite quickly. Your child is reading aloud, and instead of sounding out a word, t

Dyslexia is one of the most talked about learning differences, yet it is still widely misunderstood. Many of the beliefs parents hear about dyslexia are outdated or simply untrue. These myths can delay identification, affect confidence and prevent children from receiving the support they need. After working with hundreds of children and adults, the same misconceptions appear again and again. Understanding what dyslexia is not can be just as important as understanding what it

Many parents begin asking this question when they notice that reading or spelling seems much harder for their child than expected. Perhaps their child is bright and curious, yet reading feels slow and exhausting. Homework takes longer than it should. Words are guessed rather than sounded out. At this point, parents often start wondering: What age can dyslexia be diagnosed in the UK? Understanding when dyslexia can be identified can help families know when to seek further advi

Many parents have a moment when something about their child’s learning doesn’t quite make sense. Their child might be curious, imaginative and articulate. They may ask thoughtful questions and understand complex ideas when things are explained aloud. Yet when it comes to reading, spelling or written work, things feel unexpectedly difficult. Reading might be slow. Spelling may seem unpredictable. Homework takes far longer than expected. Often parents begin to ask themselves qu

Many parents start researching learning differences when something about school does not feel quite right. A child may be bright and curious but reading seems unusually difficult. Homework takes far longer than expected. Instructions are forgotten. Concentration appears inconsistent. At this point, a common question arises: Is this dyslexia or ADHD? Both dyslexia and ADHD are common neurodevelopmental differences that can affect learning. They sometimes appear similar in the

Classroom modifications and assistive technologies that support learning If a child has dyslexia, school can often feel harder than it should. Not because they lack intelligence. Not because they are not trying. But because many classroom environments rely heavily on reading speed, written output and working memory- areas where dyslexic learners may experience difficulty. The good news is that the right accommodations can transform the learning experience. When schools make s

If you are asking does my child need a dyslexia assessment? you are probably not casually curious. You are noticing something. Maybe reading feels harder than it should. Maybe homework ends in tears. Maybe your child is bright, articulate and capable, yet written work does not reflect that. Parents rarely ask this question without reason. This guide gives you a clear framework to help you decide. Written by Laura Gowers, APC-qualified Dyslexia Assessor and experienced SENCO w

If your child is articulate, curious and quick to understand big ideas but struggles with reading, it can feel deeply confusing. You may hear: They’re bright, they just need to try harder. They’re capable, they’re just not applying themselves. They’ll catch up. But something in you knows that isn’t quite right. If you’re searching bright child struggling with reading, you are not overthinking it. You are noticing a pattern. And that pattern deserves understanding. Written by

If you are searching for symptoms of dyslexia, it is usually because something does not quite add up. Perhaps your child is bright but struggling with reading. Perhaps spelling never seems to stick. Perhaps you are an adult who has always worked twice as hard to keep up. Dyslexia is often misunderstood. It is not about intelligence or effort. It is about how the brain processes written language. Understanding the symptoms of dyslexia is the first step towards clarity. Written

If your child hates reading, it can feel confusing and worrying. They might be bright, chatty and full of ideas. Yet the moment a book appears, everything changes. Avoidance. Tears. I’m tired. I hate it. It’s boring. Homework battles that leave everyone drained. If you are asking My child hates reading – could it be dyslexia? you are not overreacting. This is one of the most common early concerns parents raise. And sometimes, yes, it can be. Written by Laura Gowers, APC-quali

Why artificial intelligence is levelling the playing field for university students and professionals If you have dyslexia, you have probably spent years working harder than everyone else. Reading longer. Re-writing emails three times. Avoiding tasks that involve dense text. Second-guessing yourself before you press send. AI is not cheating. It is a cognitive equaliser. The best AI apps for dyslexia do not replace intelligence. They remove friction. Written by Laura Gowers, AP

If you are asking what age should a child be assessed for dyslexia in the UK, it usually means something has been worrying you for a while. Perhaps your child is in Reception or Key Stage 1 and struggling to grasp phonics. Maybe they are in Key Stage 2 and reading is still slow and effortful. Or perhaps SATs are approaching and the gap feels wider than it should. This is one of the most common questions parents ask when they are considering a dyslexia assessment for children

If you are searching for reading strategies for dyslexic children, it is usually because reading feels harder than it should for your child. They may be bright, curious and full of ideas, yet reading is slow, draining or frustrating. Homework ends in tears. Books come home from school that they have no interest in. Confidence quietly dips. Reading support for dyslexic children does not need to be rigid, joyless or pressured. In fact, the wrong approach can increase avoidance

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences in the UK. Yet, it is frequently overlooked in schools. At This is Dyslexia, based in Canterbury, Kent, we support families across the UK through in-person and online assessments. We see this pattern every week. This oversight is not due to a lack of care from teachers. Instead, it stems from the fact that dyslexia does not always present in the way people expect. Many still associate dyslexia solely with poor reading an