{"id":8071,"date":"2026-06-15T17:05:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nicolemaina.com\/mio-figlio-e-dislessico-e-meglio-non-crescerlo-bilingue\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T15:44:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T13:44:00","slug":"my-child-is-multilingual-and-has-dyslexia-now-what","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nicolemaina.com\/en\/my-child-is-multilingual-and-has-dyslexia-now-what\/","title":{"rendered":"My Child Is Multilingual and Has Dyslexia \u2014 Now What?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Can Bilingualism Be an Advantage or a Disadvantage for Dyslexic Children?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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As a multilingual parent, you’re already juggling a lot: raising your child in two or more languages at once, supporting schoolwork in a second language, building bridges between cultures. And then comes the diagnosis: dyslexia. Suddenly, a knot of questions tightens in your stomach. Does multilingualism make dyslexia worse? Should we switch to just one language at home? Did we, as parents, do something wrong?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news: the answer to all of these questions is more reassuring than you might think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What dyslexia is \u2014 and what it isn’t<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Dyslexia (also known as a reading and spelling disorder) is a neurobiological trait that makes processing written language more difficult. Children affected by it struggle to connect letters with sounds, decode words, and read fluently \u2014 regardless of their intelligence or motivation to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the key thing to understand: dyslexia is not an illness, not a failure, and not a sign of insufficient support. It’s simply a different way the brain processes language. And it’s hereditary \u2014 if one parent has dyslexia, the likelihood of the child having it rises significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The myth: multilingualism causes dyslexia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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One of the most persistent myths multilingual parents run into is: “Too many languages overwhelm the child.” This idea simply doesn’t hold up scientifically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Multilingualism does not cause dyslexia. Full stop.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What can happen is this: the symptoms of dyslexia show up in every language a child learns \u2014 including their second or third language. As a result, difficulties are sometimes initially blamed on multilingualism, even though the real cause lies elsewhere. On the flip side, dyslexia in multilingual children is sometimes identified later than it should be, because teachers or professionals assume reading struggles are simply “normal” when a child isn’t being taught in their native language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The takeaway: an early, well-informed diagnosis is especially important for multilingual children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What multilingualism really means for children with dyslexia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Multilingualism brings cognitive advantages that can also benefit children with dyslexia: sharper language awareness, more flexible thinking, and a broader understanding of how language works. Children who grow up with multiple languages often develop a fine-tuned sensitivity to sounds, meanings, and structures \u2014 a resource that can be put to deliberate use in therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, the path isn’t without its challenges. Dyslexia is easier to compensate for in some writing systems than in others: languages with highly consistent spelling (like Italian or Spanish) tend to be more accessible for children with dyslexia than languages with irregular spelling (like English or French). That doesn’t mean your child should give up a language \u2014 but it does help to adjust expectations and support accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What you can do as a parent<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Don’t give up your family languages.<\/strong> Many multilingual parents wonder whether they should switch to one language at home so as not to overwhelm their child. The research is clear on this: don’t abandon your multilingualism, and keep passing your languages on to your child. The emotional bond built through a mother tongue is a valuable anchor \u2014 especially for a child who’s struggling at school.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Look for professionals who understand multilingualism.<\/strong> When it comes to diagnosis and therapy, it’s essential to find speech therapists, psychologists, or learning specialists with experience working with multilingual children. A diagnosis based only on the school language can be incomplete. Ideally, the child’s abilities in both languages should be taken into account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Make strengths visible.<\/strong> Children with dyslexia often experience a lot of setbacks \u2014 at school, in reading, in writing. Your multilingual child already carries something special within them: they belong to two or more worlds, think across different cultures, and can express things others simply can’t. Naming and celebrating these strengths isn’t a small thing \u2014 it’s the foundation of your child’s self-image.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Work closely with the school.<\/strong> Talk openly with teachers \u2014 about the multilingualism, about the dyslexia, about what your child needs. In many countries \u2014 Italy, for example \u2014 children with dyslexia are entitled to accommodations: extra time on exams, the use of assistive tools, alternative forms of assessment. Know these rights, and use them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Be patient with yourself.<\/strong> You don’t have to know everything. You don’t have to be perfect. The most important thing you can give your child is the feeling: I’m on your side. I believe in you.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Multilingualism can be an advantage for dyslexia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    Dyslexia and multilingualism aren’t mutually exclusive \u2014 in fact, they can complement each other in surprising ways. Many people with dyslexia report that learning another language actually helped them better understand their own mother tongue. And many multilingual people with dyslexia have found their own path \u2014 as entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Your child carries both within them: the challenge of dyslexia and the richness of multilingualism. Both are part of who they are. Both shape them. There’s no reason to give up a language!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I’m Nicole Maina, a certified LingFLoWS\u00ae consultant for multilingual families. I work with parents of bilingual and multilingual children, and I know from personal experience what it means to support a child with learning differences in more than one language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Book a free introductory call<\/a> and let’s figure out together which path is right for your child and your family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Main scientific source: Nicole Maina, “Bilingualism and Dyslexia: Can Bilingualism Be an Advantage for Dyslexic Children?”, certification thesis for LingFLoWS\u00ae consultants, February 2026. Drawing on studies by Maria Vender and Mirta Vernice (2023), as well as the international literature on dyslexia and bilingualism.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you suspect your child may have dyslexia, reach out to a pediatrician, a school psychology counseling center, or a specialized speech therapist. An early diagnosis makes a significant difference.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Can Bilingualism Be an Advantage or a Disadvantage for Dyslexic Children? As a multilingual parent, you’re already juggling a lot: raising your child in two or more languages at once, supporting schoolwork in a second language, building bridges between cultures. And then comes the diagnosis: dyslexia. Suddenly, a knot of questions tightens in your stomach. …<\/p>\n

    My Child Is Multilingual and Has Dyslexia \u2014 Now What?<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7987,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[97,115,94],"class_list":["post-8071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-multilingual-family-coach","tag-article-eng","tag-consulente-per-famiglie-multilingui-2","tag-consulente-per-famiglie-multilingue-en"],"yoast_head":"\nMy Child Is Multilingual and Has Dyslexia \u2014 Now What? - Nicole Maina<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nicolemaina.com\/en\/my-child-is-multilingual-and-has-dyslexia-now-what\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"My Child Is Multilingual and Has Dyslexia \u2014 Now What? - Nicole Maina\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Can Bilingualism Be an Advantage or a Disadvantage for Dyslexic Children? 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