October 10, 2025

#63 The Hidden Price Tag of Dyslexia: What No One Tells You About the Real Costs

7 minutes

The cost of a school evaluation might be zero, but what about the years that follow? Are you prepared for the financial reality of raising a dyslexic child? Whether you're just starting your journey and trying to budget for that first private evaluation, or you're years into it and wondering if you're spending your money on the right things, this is for you.

Today, we pull back the curtain on the expenses nobody warns you about and I share why middle-class families are often hit the hardest. Plus, you’ll learn why the cost actually increases as your child gets older, and you’ll hear the strategy successful families use to "spend smart," maximize school services, and find hidden scholarships to get their kids the help they need without going broke in the process.

Don't let the financial anxiety overwhelm you! This episode will help you navigate the impossible choices and get the best outcome for your child.

If you’d like to learn more about Step Up For Students, the organization I mention in this episode that empowers families to pursue and engage in the most appropriate learning options for their children, you can do so at www.stepupforstudents.org/

Would you like to understand reports, ask the right questions, and get schools to take you seriously? Together Through Dyslexia 6-month program provides expert mentorship for parents of dyslexics and struggling readers, and you can claim your spot now at https://www.literacyuntangled.com/together-through-dyslexia!

My mini-course, From Lost to Empowered: How to Get Your Struggling Reader: The 3-Step Evaluation Request Blueprint for Parents of Struggling Readers, is available now! This 3-step evaluation request blueprint walks you through everything you need to know, from documenting concerns with the right details to writing the evaluation request letter with language that triggers legal timelines, to handling what to do when schools try to push you off, and so much more. You can break through the barriers NOW and get instant access at https://www.literacyuntangled.com/from-lost-to-empowered.

Topics Covered:

How the real financial journey of raising a dyslexic child begins after the "free" school evaluation and some of the costs that can quickly pile up [1:00]

Why middle-class families are often hit the hardest and the way in which they can often fall into a gap that exists [3:40]

What the significant long-term costs of delaying intervention are [4:20]

How to get a better return on your investment by learning to "spend smart" [4:50]

How financial relief can be obtained through certain programs and the importance of having an actual financial plan throughout this process [5:34]

Key Takeaways

Financial burdens for dyslexic support tend to increase as a child moves into middle school and high school.

The guilt of choosing between a child's essential dyslexia intervention and normal family expenses is a significant, hidden emotional and financial cost for many parents.

The most successful families don't spend the most, they "spend smart" by learning to strategically use school services to reduce the need for private, out-of-pocket expenses.

When you're ready to work with me, here are 3 ways I can help you:

Claim your spot now to Together Through Dyslexia, my 6-month program providing expert mentorship for parents of dyslexics and struggling readers!

Subscribe to my Podcast Literacy Untangled Podcast for bimonthly episodes on navigating the dyslexia journey with your kid.

Want 1:1 help from an Orton-Gillingham expert? Book a call to see how I help kids who are struggling to learn how to read.

Have a question or want a certain topic covered? Send an email to [email protected] or a DM on Instagram.

I want to support parents with dyslexic children and get this content in the hands of those who need it most. Click the share button and send away! Thank you.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or on your favorite podcast platform.

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By Jennie Sjursen

4.6

77 ratings