Written language disorders (reading, writing, and dyslexia): the SLP’s role, per ASHA
ASHA’s Practice Portal says SLPs “play a critical and direct role in the development of literacy in children and adolescents and in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of written language disorders, including dyslexia.” This page quotes ASHA only.
Quoted from official pages checked November 12, 2026. Confirm current information on those sites. This page is not medical advice and does not describe any patient’s care.
Source read on November 12, 2026: ASHA’s Practice Portal page Written Language Disorders.
ASHA’s Practice Portal pages are written for clinicians. Quotes below stop before ASHA’s in-text research citations.
Scope
ASHA states: “The scope of this Practice Portal page is limited to written language disorders (i.e., disorders of reading and writing) in preschool and school-age children (3–21 years old).” ASHA says a written language disorder involves a significant impairment in word reading, reading comprehension, written spelling, or written expression, and that a word reading disorder is also known as dyslexia (paraphrased).
Why SLPs
Among ASHA’s reasons:
- “spoken language provides the foundation for the development of reading and writing abilities;”
- “spoken and written language are interconnected at every level;”
- “children with spoken language problems and with language impairment often have difficulty learning to read and write; and”
- “instruction in one modality (spoken or written) can influence growth in the other modality.”
Roles for SLPs
- “Establishing collaborative partnerships with teachers, administrators, reading specialists, and others to foster literacy acquisition among students at risk for or experiencing reading and writing disorders”
- “Screening individuals at risk for reading and writing difficulties, including determining the need for further assessment and/or referral for other services”
- “Considering whether students who are already being treated for spoken language difficulties might require assessment related to reading and writing”
- “Diagnosing disorders of reading and writing—including dyslexia—and describing the relationship between these disorders and the student’s spoken language difficulties”
School roles are described on working in schools.
What this page does not do
It does not repeat ASHA’s assessment or treatment procedures. It is not medical advice and does not recommend any treatment, device, or product. Scope of practice is set by state law; check your state board.