Cultivating Excellence Podcast EP 28: Learning Disabilities: Dyslexia and Dysgraphia
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Dec 17, 2025 Dr. Steven Pfeiffer, a nationally certified school psychologist and pediatric neuropsychologist, explores the nuances of dyslexia and dysgraphia. He explains their differences and overlaps, emphasizing phonological skills and reading fluency’s impact on comprehension. Learn how assessments can guide interventions, the roles of anxiety in learning, and practical tips for IEP meetings. Steve shares inspiring stories of advocacy, including that of Henry Winkler, and stresses the importance of early screening and effective resources for support.
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Dyslexia Is A Brain-Based Reading Difference
- Dyslexia is a specific, genetically and neurologically based difference in how the brain converts letters into speech and meaning.
- Reading requires coordinated brain systems and early phonological sensitivity to map speech patterns to print.
Writing Problems Mirror Reading Problems
- Dysgraphia is a broad written-language difficulty often overlapping with dyslexia and includes spelling, handwriting, and encoding problems.
- The same underlying neural mapping problems that impair decoding also impair spelling and writing in English's deep orthography.
Demand Evaluations That Explain Learning
- Expect an evaluation to 'explain learning' not just to label the child; tests should rule things in and rule things out.
- Use IQ and achievement tests plus process-focused measures to identify cognitive barriers and guide interventions.
