FAQ
This page answers some of the most common questions families have about dyslexia, reading support, and the approach used at Buzz Literacy LLC. If you don’t see your question here, you’re always welcome to reach out.
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference that affects how the brain processes making reading, spelling and writing more challenging. In young children, early signs can include difficulty rhyming, trouble recognizing letter sounds, or challenges with organizing, understanding, and expressing their thoughts.
Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. Many bright, capable children have dyslexia, and with the right support, they can thrive. If your child has recently been diagnosed or you’re beginning to notice these signs, know that you’re not alone. Early understanding and structured, research-based instruction can make a meaningful difference, helping children grow into confident, successful learners.
What is the Orton-Gillingham approach?
The Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach is a structured, explicit, multisensory method designed to support children with dyslexia and other language-based learning challenges. It has been used for nearly a century and focuses on clear, step-by-step instruction in reading, spelling, and writing.
Children learn by seeing, saying, hearing, and physically engaging with language, which helps strengthen the brain pathways needed for fluent reading and accurate spelling.
Why is the Orton-Gillingham approach so widely trusted?
Although research in reading science continues to evolve, the core principles of the Orton-Gillingham approach remain strongly aligned with what we now understand about how the brain learns to read. It is often referred to as the “gold standard” for dyslexia instruction not simply because it has been used for a long time, but because its methods are grounded in how language is structured and how struggling readers learn best.
Orton-Gillingham emphasizes explicit instruction, carefully sequenced skill development, and lessons tailored to each child’s needs. These principles are consistently supported by modern research on effective reading instruction, particularly for learners who benefit from direct, systematic teaching. While the approach itself is longstanding, how it is implemented continues to evolve as educators integrate new research, tools, and insights into instruction.
Why does the Orton-Gillingham approach help children with dyslexia?
Children with dyslexia benefit from instruction that is direct, systematic, and broken into manageable steps. Orton-Gillingham does exactly that.
Rather than assuming reading skills will develop naturally, it explicitly teaches phonological awareness, phonics, decoding, encoding, spelling, grammar, and writing. Skills are practiced repeatedly until they are mastered, helping children build confidence and mastery instead of frustration.
Why does my child need specialized reading support?
General classroom reading instruction is designed for the typical learner and often moves too quickly for children with dyslexia. Without specialized support, small gaps in understanding can grow into larger challenges over time, affecting both confidence and academic progress.
Early intervention using a structured approach like Orton-Gillingham provides targeted support at a critical time, helping children build strong foundational skills and experience success as readers.