Raising the Volume: Early Identification and Real Change for Dyslexia

Dyslexia Awareness Month is here, and this year’s theme, “Raising the Volume,” is a call to action. At North Shore Speech Therapy, we believe raising the volume means more than celebrating the strengths of our neurodiverse learners, it means demanding better for them, starting with early identification and evidence-based intervention.

Why Early Identification Matters

Dyslexia affects at least one in ten Australians, yet many children are not identified until later in primary school, often around ages 7 or 8, when the literacy gap has already grown. By that time, children may have faced years of struggle and frustration, spending extra hours on sight word lists or trying to reach the next reading level, often without the right kind of support. What they truly need is a different approach, one that science has proven to be effective and is tailored to how they learn best.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Research and our clinical experience show that the signs of dyslexia can be detected as early as preschool, and certainly by kindergarten. Key milestones like blending sounds to form words, sounding out words for spelling, recognising rhymes, and identifying syllables in words are powerful early predictors. Kindergarten is the ideal time to intervene, yet too many children are left to struggle until the gap becomes entrenched.

Early identification means children can access the right support sooner, reducing the years spent trying to “catch up” and helping them build confidence from the start.

What Needs to Change

“Raising the Volume” means:

• Advocating for universal early screening in preschools and kindergartens.
• Training teachers and parents to recognise the early signs of dyslexia, not just “wait and see.”
• Implementing systematic, phonics-based literacy instruction in every classroom. This approach benefits all children and is harmful to none.
• Moving away from “more of the same” tutoring, including repetitive “sight word” learning which doesn’t address the core reasons children struggle with reading and spelling.
• Moving towards targeted, evidence-based intervention such as a “Structured Literacy” approach which is evidence-based and supported by the “Science of Reading”.

What We Do at North Shore Speech Therapy

At North Shore Speech Therapy, we specialise in early identification and intervention for children at risk of dyslexia. Our team uses gold-standard screening tools and collaborates with families and schools to ensure no child falls through the cracks. We advocate for:

• Early literacy screening in preschool and kindergarten.
• Detailed assessments to truly understand and identify each child’s unique presentation
• A structured approach to literacy which is Individualised and includes explicit systematic instruction, focusing on hearing sounds in words, matching sounds to letters, sounding out, applying spelling rules, understanding parts of words (prefixes and suffixes), word understanding (vocabulary) and is practiced at sound, word, sentence and text level.
• Ongoing support for families navigating the journey.

How Schools Can Help

Schools play a vital role. By adopting early screening, using dyslexia-friendly materials, and embracing evidence-based teaching, schools can change the trajectory for children with reading and spelling difficulties.

We offer professional development, resources, and partnership opportunities for schools ready to make a difference.

Get Involved

This Dyslexia Awareness Week, let’s raise the volume for real change:

• Learn about the early signs of dyslexia and why early action matters.
• Share your story – whether you’re a parent, teacher, or student.
• Advocate for evidence-based literacy instruction in your school.
• Take our free quiz if you’re concerned about your child’s reading or spelling.

Dyslexia Awareness Week is more than a calendar event, it’s a movement for change. Let’s make sure every child is seen, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Let’s raise the volume together!

About Us

North Shore Speech Therapy has four state of the art speech therapy clinics across Sydney’s North Shore, in Chatswood, Hornsby and Neutral Bay.  Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more great content and to explore our services.