Podcasts · Dysregulated Kids: Science-Backed Parenting Help for Behavior, Anxiety, ADHD and More
How to Identify Dyslexia | Emotional Dysregulation in Children | E222
· 18 min · Episode 222
Episode How to Identify Dyslexia | Emotional Dysregulation in Children | E222
How to Identify Dyslexia in Children
If your child struggles with reading, spelling, or attention, you’re not failing as a parent. How to identify dyslexia starts with understanding that it’s a neurological, language-based difference—not a vision problem.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• How how to identify dyslexia early through phonological and decoding assessments • Key behaviors that distinguish dyslexia from ADHD or inattentiveness • Structured literacy and home supports for Self-Regulation Skills for Children • How to partner with schools while protecting confidence and motivation
Early signs of dyslexia
Look for:
• Struggling with rhyming, letter-sound matching, or speech delays • Slow, effortful reading, spelling errors, or writing avoidance • After-school meltdowns from overworking to decode words
Red flags:
• Reliance on memorization without decoding • Persistent spelling mistakes • Emotional signs of frustration or anxiety
Assessment strategies
• Use C-TOPP (phonological processing) and WADE (decoding/encoding) • Check reading fluency and spelling progress • Assess IQ, phonological, and working memory to compare potential vs performance • Consider a QEEG brain map for insight into attention and processing
Parent insight: Many dyslexic kids appear inattentive because decoding drains cognitive resources.
Differentiating dyslexia from ADHD
• ADHD: attention, impulsivity, and executive functioning challenges • Dyslexia: decoding overload, spelling errors, and fluency struggles
Effective reading interventions
Structured, multisensory literacy programs include:
• Orton–Gillingham, Wilson, Lindamood-Bell • Daily practice, cumulative review, and data tracking • Targeted IEP goals for decoding, spelling, and fluency
Home support: short, frequent decoding exercises and read-alouds for vocabulary
School support: individualized instruction, decodable texts, and accommodations for mastery
Partnering with the school
• Request IEP or 504 accommodations for reading supports • Ask for decodable texts, controlled spelling lists, extended time, and oral responses • Praise effort, keep reading below frustration level, and protect confidence
Parent example: Middle-schooler uses speech-to-text for drafting, then practices targeted spelling patterns during interventions.
Listen + Take the Next Step
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Takeaway
How to identify dyslexia involves observing early signs, using structured assessments, and supporting the brain through regulation-first strategies.
FAQs
Q1: At what age can dyslexia be identified?
Screening can begin in kindergarten; don’t wait until 3rd grade.
Q2: Is dyslexia linked to low intelligence?
No. Many dyslexic children have average or above-average IQs.
Q3: What accommodations help immediately?
Decodable texts, audiobooks, extra time, reduced copying, and alternatives to written output.
Q4: Can dyslexic children also have ADHD?
Yes. High cognitive load from reading can mimic attention challenges.
Q5: How do I support emotional regulation during reading?
Use structured routines, visual supports, co-regulation, and short, frequent practice sessions.
Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge helps parents understand Emotional Dysregulation in Children and teaches practical Nervous System Regulation in Children and Co-Regulation Techniques through Regulation First Parenting™.
Links in the notes 4
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