Is Orton-Gillingham Only for Dyslexia?
- Hammond Bell Educational Services, LLC
- Mar 20
- 3 min read
The Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach is not just another teaching method; It is widely recognized as one of the most effective approaches for teaching individuals with dyslexia to read and spell. While it’s celebrated for its effectiveness in helping those with dyslexia, many people ask us: Is Orton-Gillingham only for dyslexia? Or can it benefit a broader range of learners? The answer may surprise you! In this blog, we’ll explore the different range of learners who benefit from this structured, multisensory approach, and discuss why it used by so many people.
Understanding Orton-Gillingham
Orton-Gillingham is a multisensory, structured and explicit (clear) approach designed to help individuals who struggle with reading, spelling, and writing. A great deal of research has gone into developing OG and it is grounded and aligned with the science of reading. Orton-Gillingham was developed by Dr. Samuel Orton and educator Anna Gillingham in the early 20th century, specifically to address the needs of students with dyslexia. The approach (read more here) focuses on breaking language down into smaller parts, and using visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning pathways to reinforce learning. This brings us to our blog topic; Is Orton-Gillingham Only for Dyslexia?
Who Else Can Benefit from Orton-Gillingham?
While OG is most commonly associated with dyslexia intervention, research and practice have shown that it can support a much broader range of learners, including:
Students with Other Language-Based Learning Disabilities – Conditions such as dysgraphia (difficulty with writing) and dyscalculia (difficulty with math) often co-exist with dyslexia. OG’s structured, sequential approach can help these students build foundational literacy skills.
Struggling Readers and Writers – Even students without a formal dyslexia diagnosis but who struggle with phonics, fluency, or comprehension can benefit from OG’s systematic instruction. Many families that we work with ask about if it's recommended to seek professional diagnosis's and our answer is always that it is very empowering to have a formal diagnosis, and can be beneficial for IEP's and school support, but we work with students who do not have formal diagnosis's as well and the results are equally successful.
English Language Learners (ELLs) – OG's explicit phonics instruction can help ELL students develop stronger decoding and spelling skills as they learn English.
Early Readers – Young children who are just beginning to develop literacy skills may benefit from OG’s structured and multisensory approach, setting them up for long-term success. Because we specialize in online Orton-Gilingham tutoring, we typically suggest that students be in first grade or older to benefit from our programs. This is only because of the natural learning curves that come with technology and independence with age.
Students with ADD/ ADHD – Many students with ADD/ ADHD struggle with reading due to attention and processing difficulties. The hands-on, multisensory nature of OG helps keep them engaged and reinforces learning in a way that works with their cognitive needs. OG provides a lot of repetition and consistent exposure to reading and spelling rules that are very helpful for students who may have ADD/ADHD. ADD/ADHD and Dyslexia often go hand in hand, so Hammond Bell is very comfortable working with students who have both, or either, ADD/ADHD and dyslexia.
Why Orton-Gillingham Works Beyond Dyslexia
Orton-Gillingham is effective because it teaches reading and writing in a way that aligns with how the brain learns language. It also does a fantastic job at closing foundational gaps and misconceptions that may developed in your child's educational journey. Its step-by-step, cumulative process ensures that students master each concept before moving on, which can be helpful for any learner who needs more structure in literacy instruction. Read our blog which explains why multisensory learning is so effective. OG can be implemented in small groups, or in the one-on-one setting. Hammond Bell Educational Services provides one-on-one intervention that allows us to move "as fast as we can, but as slow as we must" to reach mastery and success as quickly as possible.
Here are our Final Thoughts
While Orton-Gillingham is often considered a gold-standard approach for dyslexia, it is by no means limited to dyslexic learners. Many students who face challenges with reading, writing, and language processing can benefit from its structured and multisensory techniques. Whether your child has dyslexia, another learning difference, or just needs extra support with reading and spelling, Orton-Gillingham can be a very powerful tool in their learning journey.
If you’re interested in learning more about Orton-Gillingham-based tutoring for your child, contact us today! We always offer a free consultation as well as a complementary online demo lesson to show you how our programs work and see if we're a good fit for your family.
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