New and Not-Well-Known Research about Reading Disabilities: Teachers Want to Know

Abstract

Laws, practices, and research about reading difficulties have been gradually and rapidly changing since the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1974. It is difficult for schools to keep up, especially when it takes approximately 16 years for research to reach widespread public knowledge. In this article, I frame the latest research about reading difficulties within the daily discussions occurring in schools. I address misconceptions and best practices about dyslexia, learning disabilities, screening, instruction, and a common, but unknown cause of reading difficulties—developmental language disorder. Research cited in this article come from studies funded by the National Institutes of Child Health and Development and the Institute of Education Sciences.