Dyslexia and Reading: One Simple Trick That Actually Works
How to Make Reading Easier for Someone with Dyslexia At Any Age
Reading can be challenging for many people, especially when the words on the page feel overwhelming or difficult to focus on. I want to share one very simple strategy that can help make reading easier. It works for children, teens, and adults, and it doesn't require any expensive tools. This is not about trying harder. It's about using a different approach that gives the brain what it needs to focus.
The Problem Isn't Motivation
People often assume that if someone struggles with reading, they just need more practice or motivation. But when reading feels physically and mentally draining, it's not a motivation issue.
For someone with dyslexia, the brain is working incredibly hard to decode the text, manage distractions, and hold focus. Pushing them to try harder often adds to the stress. What actually helps is making the reading environment calmer and the task more manageable.
A Simple Discovery That Changed Everything
I worked with a 15-year-old girl recently who told me reading was exhausting. We started reading together, and I gave her a ruler to help her track the lines. It helped a little.
Then I handed her a blank piece of paper and asked her to use it to cover the rest of the page so she could read just one line at a time. Almost immediately, she let out a deep breath and said, "That's so much better."
She explained that the words had stopped moving around. Her eyes weren't jumping to the wrong place. She could focus. That small shift gave her control over the page. It reduced the visual noise and helped her brain settle.
Why This Strategy Works
When someone finds reading visually overwhelming, a full page of text can feel chaotic. The brain is trying to take in everything at once. That leads to distraction, fatigue, and frustration.
Using a blank sheet of paper to cover the rest of the text gives immediate relief. It allows the eyes to focus on one manageable section at a time. This strategy gives clarity, reduces stress, and supports the natural pace of reading.
The Power of Simple Solutions
Making reading easier doesn't always require specialised tools or advanced methods. Sometimes, something as ordinary as a piece of paper can change how a person experiences the text in front of them.
If someone finds reading difficult to focus on, or says the words feel like they're moving or crowding them, try this. Cover the page. Read one line at a time. Give them the space to read in a way that makes sense for their brain.
Every reader deserves to feel calm and capable. This approach is one small way to help make that possible.
