About

Remediation for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia

What's the difference between reading tutoring and dyslexia therapy?

While both aim to improve reading skills, they address different needs:

Reading Tutoring: Focuses on general reading skills, comprehension strategies, and homework support. It's often beneficial for students just needing extra practice with typical reading development.

Dyslexia Therapy: Is a specialized, evidence-based approach designed specifically for individuals with dyslexia. It is systematic, explicit, and multi-sensory, targeting the foundational language skills that are challenging for dyslexic learners. It isn't just "more" reading; it's different reading instruction. Dyslexia is a neurobiological condition that requires a specific level of intensity of intervention that aims to rewire the brain and address the root cause of the learning disability. Dyslexia remediation requires the skills of a licensed practitioner with extensive training in dyslexia and dysgraphia.

When a child is struggling with reading and writing, it can impact all areas of life, even beyond school. Early intervention with dyslexia therapy can make a world of difference!

Interventions are provided by a highly trained therapist who is both a Licensed Dyslexia Practitioner and a Licensed Occupational Therapist. This professional combination creates a unique skill set for remediating dysgraphia and dyslexia.

Cypress Dyslexia Services uses a Structured Literacy Program that follows the Science of Reading. The curriculum is Orton-Gillingham based and designed for teaching students with dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities.

The program is multisensory, systematic, cumulative, intensive, and diagnostic. Each student receives interventions that are specific to his/her needs. This program meets the highest standards of ALTA (Academic Language Therapy Association) and IMSLEC (International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council) certification for Dyslexia Therapy.

Dyslexia interventions are explicitly taught through direct instruction. Sessions are one-on-one and can be done in person or online. The Neuhaus Basic Language Skills program is used for dyslexia therapy and is supplemented with special Occupational Therapy interventions to address handwriting skills and academic executive functioning skills.

Dysgraphia interventions focus on handwriting skills, spelling, and the process of written expression. While learning to decode words (reading) can be complicated, the process of writing requires even more executive functioning skills. It can be much more demanding and often takes longer to develop than reading skills.

Dyslexia remediation differs from reading tutoring in the level of intensity required. In order to achieve the best results, three or four sessions per week are recommended. Simply practicing reading once a week will not fix the underlying neurological differences of a learning disability. Therefore, remediation is a more frequent and longer-term commitment.

Dyslexia treatment is generally HSA eligible in Texas as it is considered a qualified medical expense by the IRS. This means HSA funds can be used to pay for eligible dyslexia treatment costs, such as therapy and educational resources. To ensure your expenses are eligible, you'll likely need a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from a physician.

Most importantly, the therapist is also a parent of a child with dyslexia and dysgraphia and understands the daily struggles that can result due to learning differences.