Literacy and Written Language Disorders

At Expressable, we support children and adults with reading and writing challenges, helping them build literacy skills and develop confidence in school, at work, and in everyday life. Our language and literacy program uses evidence-based techniques to target the root causes of literacy difficulties, while tailoring support to each person’s strengths, needs, and goals.

A literacy disorder is a learning difference that makes it hard for someone to read, write, or spell. These challenges are not a reflection of intelligence or effort. Rather, they’re often related to how the brain processes language. People with literacy disorders may struggle to:

• Sound out words

• Recognize sight words

• Understand what they read

• Organize their thoughts in writing

• Spell correctly

Dyslexia is one of the most well-known literacy disorders. Dysgraphia is a type of writing disorder. But there are many types of issues that can impact reading, writing, and spelling in different ways. These difficulties often relate to key areas of language, such as phonology (sound awareness), morphology (word structure), syntax (sentence structure), and semantics (meaning). Problems with any of these areas can affect overall literacy development.

This guide explains Expressable’s clinical approach to evaluating and treating literacy and written language disorders. Learn about the techniques used in speech therapy to support stronger reading and writing, along with the individualized care our speech therapists provide. For more about the types of literacy disorders, their causes, and signs of literacy problems to look for, check out our ultimate guide to reading, writing, and spelling challenges.

1Why is speech therapy important for literacy and written language disorders? 2How Expressable treats literacy and written language disorders 3Practice reading and writing strategies at home with the Expressable portal 4The benefits of online speech therapy for literacy and written language disorders 5See what families are saying about our speech therapists 6Get matched with a speech therapist today

Why is speech therapy important for literacy and written language disorders?

Reading and writing challenges are often misunderstood. Literacy and written language disorders are not the result of laziness, low intelligence, or lack of effort. These difficulties are rooted in how the brain processes language. They can affect people across all ages and backgrounds.

Without support, literacy struggles can impact every part of a person’s life. Children may fall behind in school, lose confidence in their abilities, or avoid reading and writing. Adults may face challenges in college or at work. These difficulties can take a toll on a person’s self-esteem and their academic or career opportunities.

That’s why speech therapy plays such an important role. At Expressable, our therapists use proven methods to strengthen the language skills needed for reading and writing success. We focus on:

• Building foundational language skills, including phonological awareness, vocabulary, and grammar

• Improving reading comprehension and the ability to understand and follow written instructions

• Enhancing writing skills by helping people express their thoughts clearly, organize ideas, and use correct spelling and sentence structure

• Strengthening phonemic awareness (the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in words), which is crucial for decoding and spelling

• Teaching vocabulary and word meaning (semantics) to support both reading and writing fluency

• Fostering confidence and independence through consistent practice and meaningful progress

• Empowering caregivers and families with tools to support literacy development at home and advocate for their child at school

With early, targeted intervention, people with literacy and written language disorders can gain the skills they need to thrive in school, at work, and in everyday life.

How Expressable treats literacy and written language disorders

If you or your child is having difficulty with reading, writing, or spelling, speech therapy for literacy and written language disorders may be the support you’re looking for. Expressable matches individuals and families with licensed speech-language pathologists who are trained to evaluate and treat the underlying language challenges that affect literacy.

All sessions are conducted online through live, face-to-face video conferencing via Zoom. Research has shown that online speech therapy is just as effective as in-person treatment. It’s also more convenient and accessible, allowing for easier scheduling, reducing travel time, and increasing parent or caregiver involvement.

When you attend sessions with your child, you learn strategies directly from the therapist, so you can practice with your child at home.

At Expressable, caregiver coaching is a key part of our approach. For children, especially younger ones, therapy sessions work best when a caregiver attends alongside them. This allows you to learn strategies directly from your child’s therapist, so you can confidently use them with your child at home, between sessions. Therapy becomes more effective when parents and caregivers are empowered to support their child's growth.

Expressable’s clinical approach to evaluating literacy disorders

Speech therapy begins with a thorough evaluation. Your Expressable therapist will choose from a range of standardized or norm-referenced assessments based on age, developmental level, and concerns. Evaluations often include tasks that assess:

• Vocabulary and word knowledge

• Sentence understanding

• Phonological and phonemic awareness (such as rhyming, sound blending, and segmenting)

• Decoding and reading fluency

• Spelling and written expression

• Reading samples and screeners, such as the PASS screener

The goal of the evaluation is to gain a complete picture of the person’s strengths and challenges across key language areas. With this information, the therapist can create a custom treatment plan that’s tailored to the person’s needs.

Most Expressable clients attend two therapy sessions per week. This provides the consistency and repetition needed for progress. Since sessions are online, families can join from the comfort of their own homes, making it easier to stay involved and engaged in their child's care. You’ll be matched with a speech therapist who specializes in literacy disorders and has experience working with children or adults.

Evidence-based strategies for improving reading and writing skills

Therapy for reading and writing challenges shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. At Expressable, we tailor speech therapy to meet each person where they are. Some may need help with foundational skills like sounding out words or spelling. Others may struggle to understand what they read or express their thoughts clearly in writing. Expressable speech therapists use evidence-based strategies to address a wide range of needs.

Sessions often include a variety of targeted activities, such as:

• Phonological awareness activities to build sound-letter knowledge

• Spelling rule practice for more accurate and consistent writing

• Reading comprehension strategies to boost understanding and retention

• Guided writing tasks to improve organization and clarity

For example, one session might begin with decoding practice. Then, the therapist might move into a comprehension task using a short story. They might end with writing a summary using vocabulary words from the reading.

Common treatment strategies for written language disorders include:

• Graphic organizers to plan and structure writing

• Dialogic reading to build vocabulary and comprehension through interactive reading

• Story grammar instruction to teach the elements of narratives

• The Writing Lab approach, where the person learns to write through guided, meaningful instruction

These literacy techniques don’t just teach isolated skills. They help people apply what they learn in real-life situations, from schoolwork to everyday communication.

At Expressable, we believe therapy works best when it’s a team effort. That means including caregivers, teachers, and other team members whenever possible. Shared decision-making, consistent practice, and family involvement help support real, lasting progress. Together, we work to build stronger and more confident readers, writers, and communicators.

Practice reading and writing strategies at home with the Expressable portal

At Expressable, speech therapy doesn’t stop when your session ends. You’ll have ongoing text messaging support so you can ask questions or get tips from your speech therapist between sessions. You’ll also have access to our client portal, which makes it easier to practice reading, writing, and spelling exercises at home. The more often you practice, the faster you’ll make progress!

In the portal, you’ll find Learning Paths that explain the strategies your therapist is using, such as identifying spelling patterns or practicing rhyming and sentence building:

You can watch videos that show how to support literacy development at home. You’ll learn key skills like blending sounds, segmenting words, and decoding:

Your speech therapist will assign personalized home practice activities that fit into your everyday life, like segmenting words during a car ride or writing stories about your weekend:

The benefits of online speech therapy for literacy and written language disorders

Whether you're supporting a child with dyslexia or dysgraphia, or you're an adult looking to strengthen your own literacy skills, online speech therapy can be a powerful and convenient solution. Research shows that online speech therapy is just as effective as in-person care, and for many families, it offers even more benefits.

1 Wider access to qualified speech therapists

Online therapy makes it easy to find a speech therapist with the right expertise to treat literacy and written language disorders. Expressable matches you with a therapist who specializes in reading, writing, and language-based learning challenges and is licensed to practice in your state.

This is especially helpful if you live in a rural area or if you’ve been stuck on a long waitlist for local services. With online care, you can connect with an experienced therapist without leaving your home.

2 Convenience and flexibility

Busy school schedules, work responsibilities, and family routines can make it tough to attend in-person sessions. Add travel time to the mix, and it’s easy to see why families struggle to fit therapy into their week.

With online speech therapy, you can schedule sessions at times that work best for you, including evenings and weekends. No need to rearrange your entire day or worry about commuting. This flexibility makes it easier to stay consistent with therapy, which is key to seeing progress.

3 A comfortable, familiar environment

Learning to read and write can be challenging, especially for children who may already feel frustrated or discouraged. Online sessions take place in your own home, where your child is likely to feel more relaxed and confident. And when children are comfortable, they’re more engaged, and therapy is more effective.

For younger kids, online therapy offers even more benefits. The therapist can observe how your child interacts in their natural environment and use familiar books, toys, and routines as part of the session. This helps make therapy feel fun and meaningful, not like extra homework.

4 Greater caregiver involvement

With online sessions, parents and caregivers can easily watch and participate in therapy. You'll learn techniques and strategies directly from the therapist that you can use at home between sessions. When parents get involved, that leads to faster, more lasting progress, because therapy doesn’t stop when the video call ends.

5 Affordability

Online therapy can often be more affordable than in-person clinics. That’s because providers don’t have to cover the overhead costs of physical office space. While the cost of speech therapy varies depending on your provider and insurance, families often find online therapy to be a more cost-effective option, without compromising on quality of care.

See what families are saying about our speech therapists

We treat children and adults around the country with dyslexia and other reading and writing challenges. Our speech therapists consistently earn ratings of 4.9 out of 5 stars from their clients. Here’s just a sampling:

“My son has improved his speech and reading” “Our speech therapist is so patient and always incorporates a personal feel to the sessions. I've seen my son improve with his speech and reading in the short time we've had. She gives great advice on where the wins are and areas of opportunity. My son enjoys the games added to the sessions as well.”

“Enriching and productive” “I’ve been having incredibly productive speech therapy sessions with Veronica. The reading practice has been particularly beneficial, as the topics we cover are directly relevant to my professional life. I truly appreciate her unwavering passion and dedication to my progress. Overall, our sessions have been enriching and productive.”

“The progress we've witnessed in such a short time has been nothing short of remarkable” “Meeting Katherine online has been incredibly convenient, allowing us to seamlessly integrate sessions into our routine without any hassle. From the very beginning, she has created a warm and inviting atmosphere that my child genuinely enjoys. Her innovative approach to teaching, incorporating interactive games and activities, has made learning to read not only effective but also fun and engaging. The progress we've witnessed in such a short time has been nothing short of remarkable. Both my child's teachers and my husband and I have noticed significant improvements in his speech, spelling, and reading skills.”

Get matched with a speech therapist today

Whether you or your child struggles with reading, writing, or spelling, support is available. At Expressable, our speech therapists specialize in treating literacy and written language disorders, including dyslexia and dysgraphia. Find the right speech therapist for your needs here.