Worried Your Child Has Dyslexia But Can't Get a Diagnosis? Here's What to Do

Kate Baker
Apr 3
3 min read

Updated: Apr 11

If you suspect your child has dyslexia but haven't been able to get an official diagnosis, you’re not alone. Whether you're facing long wait times for assessments, struggling to get the right support from school, or simply feeling unsure, the good news is - you don’t need to wait for a formal diagnosis to start helping your child.

Dyslexia-friendly reading strategies work for all children, but they’re especially important for those who struggle with reading. By introducing these techniques at home, you’ll be giving your child the best possible foundation. And if a future assessment confirms they do have dyslexia, you’ll already be ahead in supporting them. If not? These strategies will still strengthen their reading skills, so there’s no downside to starting now.

1. Use the Picturing Method to Make Learning Stick

One of the biggest challenges for children with dyslexia is retaining what they learn. You might teach them to read a word like was, and then just a few sentences later, it’s as if they’ve never seen it before. This is because their brain struggles to store and retrieve that information efficiently.

The Picturing Method helps solve this by engaging their visual memory. Instead of just seeing and sounding out letters, they create a mental image of the word, helping them to store and recall it more easily. If you’re unsure where to start, my workbooks integrate this method into every activity - just follow along, and your child will naturally build this skill. (Learn more about the method here.)

2. Teach the 55 Essential Phonemes

To read successfully, children need to master the core sounds of the English language - the phonemes. Depending on the phonics programme a school follows, the number of phonemes taught may vary, but a solid foundation in these sounds is critical.

Think of phonemes as the building blocks of reading. Without knowing that ou makes the /ow/ sound, how can they read words like 'mountain' or 'without'? Focusing on the 55 most important phonemes will give them the confidence to tackle longer words and read more fluently.

3. Build Their Reading Independence

Many children with dyslexia develop a habit of glossing over mistakes - reading a word incorrectly and continuing on without noticing. This can cause problems, from misunderstanding a story’s plot to misreading crucial instructions in school work.

A simple but powerful way to help is by encouraging self-correction. Instead of jumping in as soon as they misread a word, wait until they finish the sentence and then ask, "Did that make sense?" This gives them a chance to reflect, recognise the mistake, and correct it on their own. Over time, this skill will become second nature, helping them become more independent and confident readers.

That feeling when you read a whole page by yourself ✨

Final Thoughts

If you're worried about your child’s reading and want dyslexia-specific support, don’t hesitate to reach out. You don’t need to wait for a diagnosis to start making a difference! My workbooks are designed with struggling readers in mind, giving parents an easy, structured way to help at home.

👉 Check out the workbooks to start your child's reading journey today!