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Reading is much more than recognising words on a page. It relies on a combination of language processing, attention, memory, and the coordinated movement of the muscles involved in speech. For children with dyslexia or other learning challenges, strengthening both literacy skills and oral motor abilities can contribute to greater confidence and communication.
While dyslexia primarily affects language processing rather than muscle strength, many children also benefit from activities that support speech clarity, coordination, and overall communication. This guide explores reading methods alongside simple oral motor exercises that can complement a child’s broader learning plan.
Structured literacy: the gold standard approach
Structured literacy is the most well-researched, evidence-backed method for supporting children with dyslexia to read better. Unlike general reading instruction, structured literacy follows a clear sequence that builds from the simplest concepts to the most complex ones. It covers phonology, sound-symbol relationships, syllable types, morphology, syntax, and text organisation in a deliberate, organised way.
Children don’t guess at words or rely on context clues. Instead, they learn to decode language from the ground up, one rule at a time. This approach gives them a reliable toolkit they can apply to any word, familiar or new.
Why systematic and cumulative instruction works
Children with dyslexia often struggle when reading instruction jumps unpredictably between concepts. Systematic instruction removes this uncertainty by introducing skills in a carefully planned order.
Equally important is cumulative review. Previously learned concepts are practiced regularly while new ones are introduced, allowing reading skills to become automatic over time.
Instead of simply moving from one lesson to the next, children continually strengthen their foundation through repetition and review.
Multisensory learning improves memory
Research consistently supports multisensory instruction for children with dyslexia. Engaging multiple senses simultaneously creates stronger neural connections than visual learning alone.
Common multisensory activities include:
- Tracing letters in sand while saying their sounds
- Building words with letter tiles
- Clapping or tapping syllables
- Writing letters while pronouncing corresponding sounds
These activities combine visual, auditory, tactile, and movement-based learning, making it easier for children to remember and apply new reading skills.
Building fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension together
Accurate decoding alone is not enough. Children also need support developing reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Helpful strategies include:
- Repeated reading of familiar passages to improve speed and expression
- Reading aloud together every day
- Discussing new vocabulary during conversations
- Teaching comprehension strategies such as summarising, predicting, and asking questions
Developing these skills simultaneously allows children to understand what they read rather than simply pronounce words correctly.
The role of oral motor skills
Although dyslexia itself is not caused by weak oral muscles, oral motor development plays an important role in speech production, feeding, breathing, and communication. Some children who receive speech-language therapy may benefit from targeted oral motor activities as part of a broader treatment plan.
Oral motor exercises are structured movements that target the muscles of the lips, tongue, jaw, cheeks, and palate. Unlike casual chewing or talking, these exercises are deliberate and progressive, which is exactly what makes them effective. For example, Soundsory’s oral motor strengthening exercises use a structured sequence to build muscle endurance and coordination over time, so each movement prepares the body for the next.
These exercises are not designed to treat dyslexia directly, but they can help improve muscle coordination needed for clear speech and oral control.
Six easy oral motor exercises
1. Lip presses
Press the lips together firmly for five seconds before relaxing.
To increase difficulty, hold a clean craft stick or tongue depressor between the lips without using the teeth while someone gently pulls on it.
This exercise strengthens lip muscles involved in articulation and saliva control.
2. Tongue push-ups and side sweeps
Press the tongue firmly against the roof of the mouth for several seconds before relaxing.
Then slowly move the tongue from one corner of the mouth to the other while maintaining control.
These exercises improve tongue strength and precision for speech and swallowing.
3. Cheek puffing
Fill both cheeks with air and hold for five seconds before releasing.
Once comfortable, alternate the air from one cheek to the other or gently press against the cheeks with your fingers while maintaining air pressure.
This strengthens the cheek muscles that contribute to speech and feeding.
4. Controlled jaw opening
Open the mouth slowly as wide as comfortably possible, hold briefly, then close with equal control.
For additional resistance, a therapist may recommend gentle bite exercises using appropriate oral tools.
These movements support chewing, speech, and jaw stability.
5. Blowing and sucking activities
Practice blowing bubbles through a straw or moving lightweight objects like cotton balls across a table.
Drinking through narrow straws also provides gentle resistance that strengthens muscles involved in sucking and swallowing.
These activities encourage coordinated movement of the lips, tongue, cheeks, and soft palate.
6. Tongue-to-roof lifts
Touch the tip of the tongue just behind the upper front teeth, then slowly slide it backward along the roof of the mouth before returning.
This movement improves tongue mobility and supports production of sounds requiring precise tongue placement.
Practical daily activities parents can use
Children benefit most from consistent, positive practice rather than long, frustrating sessions. Consider incorporating these habits into your routine:
- Read aloud together every day
- Practice rhyming games and sound awareness during conversations
- Break longer words into prefixes, suffixes, and root words
- Pair audiobooks with printed books
- Keep reading sessions short and encouraging
- Include simple oral motor activities if recommended by your child’s speech-language therapist
- Celebrate progress instead of focusing on mistakes
A supportive environment helps children develop confidence while reducing anxiety around reading and communication.
Choosing effective reading programmes
When selecting reading instruction, look for programmes that:
- Follow structured literacy principles
- Teach phonemic awareness explicitly
- Include systematic phonics instruction
- Integrate reading and spelling
- Use multisensory learning techniques
- Are delivered by instructors trained in dyslexia intervention
The quality of instruction often matters just as much as the curriculum itself.
Conclusion
Children with dyslexia thrive when instruction is structured, systematic, and tailored to how they learn. Evidence-based literacy approaches help build decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, while appropriate oral motor activities may support speech and overall communication for children who need them.
Every child develops at their own pace, but consistent practice, positive encouragement, and individualised support can lead to meaningful progress over time.
Please remember: This article is intended for educational purposes and should not replace professional evaluation or therapy. If you have concerns about your child’s reading, speech, or oral development, consult a qualified educator, speech-language therapist, or healthcare professional.
Catherine
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