Why Does My Dyslexic Child Struggle With Reading but Excel in Other Areas?

It’s one of the most common questions we hear from parents: my child is clearly bright (a sharp problem solver, creative, great with ideas), so why is reading such a struggle?

Two different sets of skills

Dyslexic and struggling readers often have exceptional right-brain skills, which is exactly why they tend to be such strong problem solvers. Reading, though, is largely a left-brain process, so a child can be genuinely gifted in one area and genuinely struggling in the other, at the same time, for the same underlying neurological reason.

This isn’t just anecdotal. According to the British Computer Society, “dyslexics are indeed over-represented, not only among software engineers, but also among other kinds of practical engineers, artists, architects, entrepreneurs and scientists.” The same wiring that makes reading harder shows up, again and again, alongside real strength in other domains.

Can they become fluent readers?

Yes. Explicit instruction that directly trains the left-brain processes involved in reading can close the gap. Online Reading Tutor’s lessons are built on neuroscience and reading research that identifies how the brain functions during reading, and what core skills a child needs to become a successful reader.

Your child’s struggle with reading isn’t a reflection of their intelligence or potential: it’s a specific, well-understood, and treatable difference in how their brain processes text. Take our free 10-minute screener to find out where they stand and what comes next.