Understanding the Types of Dyslexia to Better Support Your Child

Why Knowing the Type of Dyslexia Matters

When your child struggles to read, write, or keep up in class, the word “dyslexia” often feels like both a relief and a new weight to carry. Parents frequently ask: “What exactly does this mean for my child? Is there a way to help them feel less frustrated and more confident?” One of the first steps is understanding that not all dyslexia is the same. Recognizing the specific type of dyslexia your child may be facing can make a huge difference in how you support their learning journey.

Dyslexia isn't a one-size-fits-all diagnosis. Like a mosaic of challenges, it varies in how it affects memory, language processing, and reading fluency. Diving into these differences not only gives clarity—it empowers you to respond in ways that are meaningful, compassionate, and effective.

The Main Types of Dyslexia and What They Look Like

While exact classifications can differ slightly across medical and educational communities, most experts agree on a few key types of dyslexia. Each one interferes with literacy in distinct ways.

Phonological Dyslexia

This may be the most commonly recognized form. It affects the ability to connect letters to sounds, making sounding out words—or phonemic decoding—particularly difficult. A child with phonological dyslexia might guess wildly at unfamiliar words or memorize whole words instead of breaking them into parts. This type is often what schools screen for first.

Surface Dyslexia

Here, children can sound out words phonetically but have trouble recognizing irregular or exception words like “yacht” or “knight.” These are children who might read “laughter” as “lagh-ter,” struggling with words that don’t follow predictable pronunciation rules. They rely so much on phonetics that reading becomes painfully slow and literal.

Rapid Naming Deficit Dyslexia (Naming Speed Deficit)

This form involves processing speed. Children may know what a letter is, but retrieving that information quickly is the challenge. Reading fluency, therefore, becomes agonizingly slow, and the labor it takes to get through a sentence can sap motivation. These kids often do better when they're listening rather than reading.

Visual Dyslexia (or Visual Processing Disorder)

Although not officially classified as dyslexia in all diagnostic systems, some children experience difficulty processing visual information on the page. Words may appear to move, blur, or shift. These children tire easily when reading and are more likely to skip lines or misread short words altogether.

What This Means for Your Daily Life at Home

Understanding what kind of dyslexia your child has isn’t about putting them in a box—it’s about tailoring your support. For instance, a child with phonological dyslexia will benefit from structured phonics intervention, while one with surface dyslexia may need more exposure to sight words and whole-word memorization strategies. The tools and resources you choose, how you read together, and even the expectations you set all depend on these nuances.

It’s worth exploring how to adapt your reading style based on your child’s challenges. Doing so can make shared reading peaceful again—not a daily battle.

The Emotional Side: You’re Not Alone

Academic support is essential, but so is emotional validation. Dyslexia doesn’t mean your child is less smart or capable—it means they learn differently. Still, facing frequent struggles can impact a child’s self-esteem. Guilt, frustration, and even anxiety can pile up on both sides of the kitchen table during homework time.

Encouraging strengths outside of reading helps enormously. This might include storytelling, drawing, or even verbal imagination games. If your child absorbs stories better by listening, don't hesitate to lean into that. In fact, listening to stories can strengthen auditory memory and foster a love of narrative even when reading remains difficult.

Supporting Learning with Audio Resources

Incorporating alternate story formats can relieve pressure and keep your child engaged with language. Audiobooks are a powerful tool in this regard. For many parents, tools like the iOS or Android version of the LISN Kids App provide an accessible way to bring meaningful stories into daily life. This app offers original audio series and audiobooks for children aged 3 to 12—from fantasy adventures to calming bedtime tales—all without requiring reading. It's a screen-light, literacy-friendly support platform that respects your child’s learning style.

Next Steps: Learning to Adapt, Not Fix

If your child has been recently diagnosed, you may feel overwhelmed with what to do next. Testing and naming the type of dyslexia is only a starting line. From here, it’s about steady adaptation, not dramatic change. That might mean working with speech-language pathologists, engaging tutors who specialize in specific types of dyslexia, or even seeking out schools with trained support staff.

But it also means revisiting everyday choices—like how you format bedtime stories or how you talk about books in the home. When you better understand the barriers your child faces, you’re more equipped to remove them, one by one.

Your Role as a Parent Is Powerful

Whether your child is only beginning to show signs of reading difficulties or has already been through a formal evaluation, try to hold this truth close: you don’t need to be their doctor, their teacher, or their therapist. But you are their steady, safe place. And by gaining clarity about their challenges—including what type of dyslexia they face—you’re offering the gift of empathy. It’s a gift that grows stronger with knowledge, patience, and the belief that every child deserves to enjoy the power of stories—in whatever form works best for them.