Dysorthography: how to treat and rehabilitate this spelling disorder?
Dysorthography is not cured in the strict sense — it is a permanent neurodevelopmental disorder. However, it can be effectively rehabilitated and very well compensated for with the right tools. Early, intensive and well-coordinated support can produce very significant results in spelling performance.
Speech and language therapy rehabilitation: the reference treatment
Speech and language therapy rehabilitation is the core treatment for dysorthography. It directly targets the underlying deficits — phonology, orthographic memory, grammatical rules — through regular weekly sessions. The speech and language therapist adapts the rehabilitation to the child’s specific profile: some benefit more from intensive phonological work, others from rehabilitation focused on memorising words or automating grammatical rules.
Rehabilitation for dysorthography is generally long — it often extends over several years. Progress is real but gradual, and regular sessions are essential to achieve lasting results.
The most effective speech and language therapy methods
Several methods have proven effective in the rehabilitation of dysorthography. Explicit, structured phonological methods — which systematically work on sound-letter correspondences — are particularly suitable for dysorthographies with a marked phonological component. The photographed words method — which links the visual form of a word to its mental image — helps build a more robust orthographic memory. And analogy exercises — finding other words built in the same way — promote the transfer of learning to new words.
The role of parents in rehabilitation
Rehabilitation does not stop at the door of the speech and language therapy practice. Parents play an essential role by regularly practising the recommended exercises, adapting working conditions at home, and maintaining a supportive attitude towards mistakes rather than systematic, exhausting correction. Regular communication with the speech and language therapist makes it possible to adjust home exercises according to the child’s progress.
Compensatory tools: valuable allies
Alongside rehabilitation, compensatory tools enable the child to function at school despite their spelling difficulties. Spell checkers, voice dictation and writing assistance software do not replace rehabilitation — but they mean the child is not constantly penalised at school while rehabilitation does its work over the long term.
School adjustments: compensating to learn better
A well-designed PAP allows the pupil to follow lessons without being systematically penalised for their spelling difficulties. Not penalising spelling in subjects other than French, extra time, use of compensatory tools and adapted dictations are the most effective adjustments and the easiest to put in place. To find a speech and language therapist specialising in dysorthography, professionnelsdys.fr offers a comprehensive directory.
