Staley Learning

Many people use the terms reading delay and dyslexia interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.

A reading delay describes what we can see – a child who is reading below the level expected for their age. Dyslexia is a specific learning difference that may help explain why those reading difficulties are happening.

Understanding the difference matters because the right support starts with the right understanding. While some children with reading delays may catch up with targeted intervention, children with dyslexia often need more specialised and structured support.

In this visual, I’ve broken down some of the key differences between reading delay and dyslexia in a simple, easy-to-understand format for parents, educators, and professionals.

See the visual for our Bitesize Guide to Dyslexia download instructions.