Programs like Orton-Gillingham and Barton Reading are phonics-based systems. It can take a long time for students with dyslexia to master reading, spelling, and writing. I recently came across a program that does not emphasize phonics or sight words or really even letters. The claim is that the program doesn’t have complex rules or exceptions to rules that students have to learn. Students do not need to sound out words. Supposedly, students manipulate blocks to learn to read and will be able to reach grade-level reading in just a few short months, and then, they’re cured. I’m wondering if this is something new and would benefit my child.

Dr. Pierson’s Response:

I am glad you took the time to write. This is a case of buyer beware. To quote this opening of this journal  covering controversial therapies for reading disorder – “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

https://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/latest/controversial-therapies-dyslexia/

https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/collections/choosing-wisely/125.html

https://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/dyslexics/letter-from-dr-ryan/magic-pills-and-colored-glasses/

Regarding a “cure” for dyslexia, I like this article by Elizabeth Norton, Ph.D., from Northwestern University. Northwestern has been a leader in the field of learning disabilities for nearly 60 years now — really ever since Johnson and Mykelbust published their seminal book Learning Disabilities: Education Principles and Practices in 1967. Dr. Norton clearly states what dyslexia is and how we treat this lifelong learning disorder. https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/Can-Dyslexia-Be-Cured 

At DyslexiaHelp and in my own private clinical practice, I am guided by the International Dyslexia Association’s (IDA) definition of dyslexia, which was just updated in the fall of 2025. https://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/professionals/learn-about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia/

This revised definition, which was developed by a panel of highly-regarded experts in the field, along with input from the public, continues to identify dyslexia as a language-based learning disorder. And, in light of that understanding, the IDA is quite clear about its recommendation as to the type of intervention that is required to teach students with dyslexia. The organization has termed the intervention approach as structured literacy (SL).  https://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/dyslexics/living-with-dyslexia/structured-literacy-setting-the-stage-for-student-literacy-success/

As a practitioner, it is essential that my students with dyslexia learn to make the connections between the sounds (and syllables) of our language (after all, it is a language-based disorder) and the letter(s) that correspond with those sounds (or phonemes). And yes, it takes time. I have been doing this work for decades, and I have yet to have one of my students with dyslexia get to grade-level reading within a couple of months. Dr. Sally Shaywitz, in her seminal book Overcoming Dyslexia, estimates that it takes between 300-500 hours of intervention. 

It takes time because, in addition to learning letter-sound correspondences, students need to 

• Improve their orthographic knowledge https://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/professionals/dyslexia-and-intervention/spelling/
• Learn morphology https://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/professionals/dyslexia-and-intervention/morphological-awareness/

• Learn strategies for reading comprehension

https://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/professionals/dyslexia-and-intervention/reading-comprehension/

• Become fluent readers 

https://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/professionals/dyslexia-and-intervention/reading-fluency/

• Become proficient writers https://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/professionals/dyslexia-and-intervention/writing/

…to name some of the areas we target in intervention.

So, students with dyslexia do need to learn the rules of English orthography, and they also need to learn the exceptions to the rules. The way to do that is by using a structured literacy approach. Both the Orton-Gillingham approach and the Barton System meet the IDA’s standards. I have many other programs here https://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/tools/reading-programs/

Again, I am so glad you asked this question. I have met with too many parents who have spent valuable resources (i.e., time and money) on programs that do not address the needs of our students with dyslexia. And while these kiddos are wasting their time in these ineffective programs, besides not learning to read, their self-esteem takes a beating, and that is something we all want to avoid.

I have given you a lot of information here; I hope you find it helpful. Please feel free to reach out if I can be of further assistance.