Conditions We Work With
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, affecting an estimated 1 in 5 people. It is not a problem with intelligence, vision, or effort. It is a neurological difference in how the brain processes written language. With the right support, people with dyslexia thrive.
Understanding Dyslexia
More Than Reversing Letters
One of the most persistent myths about dyslexia is that it causes people to see letters backwards. While some letter reversals are common in early childhood, dyslexia is primarily a phonological processing difference: a difficulty connecting written symbols to the sounds they represent.
People with dyslexia often have strong reasoning, creativity, and verbal skills. The challenge is specifically with the mechanics of reading and spelling, not with understanding ideas or learning in general.
Many individuals spend years struggling without ever receiving a clear explanation. A formal evaluation changes that, providing answers, documentation, and a roadmap for support.
Key Facts About Dyslexia
- Affects approximately 1 in 5 people, the most common learning disability
- Present across all levels of intelligence
- Neurological in origin, not caused by poor teaching or lack of effort
- Runs strongly in families, genetic factors play a significant role
- Responds well to structured, evidence-based reading instruction
- Accommodations and assistive technology can dramatically improve outcomes
Signs of Dyslexia Across the Lifespan
Dyslexia looks different at different ages. The signs shift as reading demands increase, but the underlying difficulty with phonological processing remains consistent.
Preschool & Kindergarten
- Difficulty learning letter names and sounds
- Trouble rhyming words
- Slow to learn new vocabulary
- Difficulty following multi-step directions
Elementary School
- Reading significantly below grade level
- Slow, labored reading with frequent errors
- Spelling that does not improve with practice
- Avoiding reading aloud or independently
- Strong verbal skills that contrast sharply with reading and writing
Middle & High School
- Difficulty reading long assignments independently
- Slow reading speed that affects all subjects
- Trouble with foreign language learning
- Avoidance of reading-heavy tasks
Adults
- History of reading struggles that were never explained
- Slow reading speed despite high intelligence
- Difficulty with spelling throughout life
- Avoidance of jobs or tasks requiring extensive reading
What Causes Dyslexia?
Dyslexia has a strong neurological and genetic basis. Brain imaging research shows consistent differences in how the left hemisphere processes language in people with dyslexia. Contributing factors include:
- Genetic factors: dyslexia runs strongly in families
- Differences in how the brain processes phonological information
- Neurological differences in left-hemisphere language areas
- Premature birth or low birth weight in some cases
Dyslexia and Strengths
People with dyslexia often develop remarkable strengths as a result of processing the world differently. Many highly successful entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, and leaders have dyslexia.
- Strong spatial reasoning and visual thinking
- Creative problem-solving and big-picture thinking
- Excellent verbal communication and storytelling
- Persistence and resilience developed through challenge
- Strong ability to see patterns and connections others miss
Dyslexia Often Occurs Alongside Other Conditions
Dyslexia frequently co-occurs with other neurodevelopmental conditions. A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation can identify all of the factors affecting reading and learning, not just dyslexia in isolation.
ADHD
Approximately 40–50% of people with dyslexia also have ADHD. Both conditions affect academic performance, but through different mechanisms, and each requires its own targeted support.
Dysgraphia
Difficulty with the physical act of writing often accompanies dyslexia. People with dysgraphia may struggle with handwriting, spacing, and organizing written expression.
Dyscalculia
Some individuals with dyslexia also experience difficulty with numbers and mathematical concepts. Like dyslexia, dyscalculia reflects a specific processing difference rather than a general learning problem.
Treatment and Support Options
Although Hope Springs does not provide dyslexia treatment, it is highly treatable. With the right instruction and accommodations, most people with dyslexia become capable, confident readers and learners.
Structured Literacy Instruction
The most evidence-based approach for dyslexia. Programs like Orton-Gillingham teach reading systematically, using multisensory techniques that engage visual, auditory, and kinesthetic pathways simultaneously.
School Accommodations
A formal evaluation opens the door to legally protected accommodations under a 504 Plan or IEP, including extended time, audiobooks, reduced reading load, and assistive technology.
Assistive Technology
Text-to-speech software, audiobooks, and speech-to-text tools can dramatically reduce the burden of reading and writing, allowing individuals to access content and demonstrate knowledge more easily.
Early Intervention
The earlier dyslexia is identified, the better the outcomes. Intervention before third grade produces the strongest results. However, intervention at any age produces meaningful improvement.
Why a Formal Evaluation Matters
A formal dyslexia evaluation does more than confirm a diagnosis. It provides a detailed picture of a person's reading, phonological processing, and related cognitive abilities, identifying both areas of difficulty and areas of strength.
The written report produced by a neuropsychological evaluation is the document schools, colleges, and employers require to provide accommodations. Without it, many individuals are denied the support they are legally entitled to.
Hope Springs Behavioral Consultants serves families and adults from Iowa City, Coralville, Cedar Rapids, Marion, North Liberty, Hiawatha, and across eastern Iowa, in person and via telehealth.
For more information, read articles on dyslexia and learning differences by Hope Springs' clinicians.
Ready to Get Answers?
Hope Springs Behavioral Consultants offers comprehensive dyslexia evaluations for children and adults in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and the surrounding area. Contact us to get started.