Who Does What

Dyslexia Specialist, Tutor Or Speech Pathologist: Who Does What

No single professional does everything for a child with dyslexia. A psychologist usually makes the formal diagnosis, a speech pathologist or a trained tutor teaches reading and spelling, an occupational therapist helps with handwriting, and a learning support teacher arranges help at school. "Dyslexia specialist" is not a protected title in Australia, so the training behind the title is what counts.

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Who Helps With Dyslexia: Five Professions Compared

Fees read from published sources on 15 November 2026

Five kinds of professional help a child with dyslexia in Australia, and each has a different job. The table sets out what each one does, what each one does not do, a published fee and whether a Medicare rebate can apply. It sits beside the guide to dyslexia treatment and what works.

Profession	What they do for dyslexia	What they do not do	Published fee	Medicare rebate
Tutor	Teaches reading and spelling one to one. A tutor trained in structured literacy teaches the method recommended for dyslexia. A general tutor helps with homework, assignments and school subjects.	Does not assess language or diagnose. "Tutor" is not a regulated title, so training varies widely.	$80 to $130 a weekly session on one state SPELD tutor register.	No.
Speech pathologist	Assesses reading, spelling and the spoken language underneath (the sounds in words, vocabulary and sentences), then teaches reading and spelling from that assessment.	Does not usually make the formal dyslexia diagnosis.	No set fee; each practitioner sets their own. Dr Lauren's fee is $193 a session.	May apply with a doctor's referral, for a limited number of sessions a year, if your GP decides your child is eligible.
Occupational therapist	Works on handwriting, pencil grip and coordination.	Does not teach reading or spelling, and does not diagnose dyslexia.	No set fee; each practitioner sets their own.	The same GP plan, and the same small yearly limit, shared across every allied health profession on the plan.
Psychologist	Makes the formal diagnosis, using standardised tests of thinking skills, processing and school achievement. The report can support a request for adjustments at school and in exams. Also helps with worry and confidence.	Does not usually teach reading and spelling week to week.	The suggested fee is $330 for a consultation of 46 to 60 minutes. A full learning assessment is priced as a package, $1,695 to $2,100 at one not-for-profit provider.	A learning assessment usually attracts no Medicare rebate. Ask before you book.
Learning support teacher	Works at school: small group or one to one teaching, changes in class and in tests, and the learning plan.	Does not diagnose. How much time a child gets is decided by the school.	Part of school.	Not applicable.

The fees were read on 15 November 2026 from three published sources: the SPELD SA tutor register, the Australian Psychological Society's suggested fees for 2026 to 2027 and the SPELD NSW assessment fees.

Every practitioner sets their own fee, so treat each figure as a guide and ask for the full cost in writing.

Is a speech pathologist worth the higher fee?

A session with a speech pathologist costs more than a session with most tutors. The extra pays for an assessment of the spoken language skills under reading, and for teaching planned from that assessment. A Medicare rebate does not close the gap. It may apply with a doctor's referral, for a limited number of sessions a year, if your GP decides your child is eligible. Choose on what your child needs, not on the rebate. The full detail is on fees and funding.

Where does a formal dyslexia diagnosis come from?

A formal dyslexia diagnosis in Australia usually comes from a psychologist. healthdirect says the psychologist looks at a child's history, school results and how the child has responded to at least six months of teaching support. That last point matters: teaching does not wait for the diagnosis, and the results of the teaching form part of the assessment. Dr Lauren does not diagnose dyslexia. Her first assessment looks at reading, spelling and the language underneath, and it is what her teaching plan is built on.

Five Situations

Which Professional For Which Situation

Most families need more than one of the five over the years, but rarely all at once. Start with the situation closest to yours.

Reading is behind and nobody has said why

Start with an assessment of reading, spelling and spoken language, from a speech pathologist or a psychologist. Ask the school what support is already in place. Teaching can begin before anyone uses the word dyslexia.
You need a formal diagnosis for school or exams

See a psychologist. Before you book, ask which tests are included and whether the report can name a specific learning disorder where the criteria are met.
Speech was late, or words and instructions are hard too

See a speech pathologist. Trouble finding words, following instructions or hearing the sounds in words sits under reading, and spoken language is a speech pathologist's field.
Homework, assignments or one subject

Choose a tutor for the schoolwork itself: an assignment due, a subject to catch up on, exam revision. If spoken language is strong, a tutor trained in structured literacy can also teach reading at a lower fee.
Handwriting is slow, sore or hard to read

See an occupational therapist for the handwriting itself. Spelling is a separate skill and is taught with reading.

In every one of these, talk to the school as well. The guide to dyslexia at school sets out what to ask for.

What "Dyslexia Specialist" Means, And What To Ask

What is a dyslexia specialist?

"Dyslexia specialist" is a description, not a qualification. No law in Australia limits who may use it, so a tutor, a teacher, a speech pathologist or a psychologist can all call themselves one.

Two of the titles in the table are protected by law. Only a person registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) may call themselves a psychologist or an occupational therapist, and anyone can check the public register. Speech pathology is regulated by its professional body instead. The credential to look for is Certified Practising Speech Pathologist, awarded by Speech Pathology Australia. Tutoring has no regulator at all. A tutor's training shows in other ways, such as a place on a state SPELD tutor register or accreditation from the Australian Dyslexia Association, which it gives for training in MSL (the guide to Orton-Gillingham and MSL explains both).

Dyslexia Therapy does not use the word specialist for Dr Lauren Crumlish. Her titles are the ones that can be checked: a PhD from The University of Queensland and Certified Practising Speech Pathologist.

What is a dyslexia reading specialist?

"Reading specialist" is also a description in Australia, not a registered occupation. The person behind it may be a learning support teacher, a tutor or a speech pathologist who teaches reading. Ask the same questions of a reading specialist as of anyone else.

What should you ask before paying anyone?

Seven questions sort out most of what a parent needs to know, whatever the person's title.

What is your qualification, and where can I check it?
What training do you have in teaching reading and spelling to children with dyslexia?
Will you assess my child first, and what will the assessment tell me?
What will you teach, and in what order? The six questions to judge a reading program go further.
How will you measure progress, and when will we review it?
What do you not do, and who would you send us to for that?
What is the full cost, including the assessment and any report?

Whatever the title, be wary of a promised cure or a fixed number of weeks; AUSPELD, the national federation of the SPELD associations, warns parents against both.

Is dyslexia tutoring with Dr Lauren tutoring or therapy?

Dyslexia tutoring with Dr Lauren is speech pathology: $193 a session (45 minutes of therapy plus 15 minutes of preparation and notes), with an assessment first, online for children and teenagers up to 18, and it does not cover homework, assignments or subject tutoring. What it covers is on dyslexia tutoring with Dr Lauren, and how written work is taught is on spelling and writing help.

Dr Lauren works with a small number of families and has limited availability.

Sources

healthdirect, Dyslexia
AUSPELD, Who can diagnose a specific learning disorder?
AUSPELD, Selecting a successful intervention program
Ahpra, Professions and divisions
MBS Online, item 10958

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Who Does What

Tutor, Specialist Or Speech Pathologist: Common Questions

Who can help a child with dyslexia?

Five kinds of professional help a child with dyslexia. A psychologist usually makes the formal diagnosis. A speech pathologist or a tutor trained in structured literacy teaches reading and spelling. An occupational therapist helps with handwriting. A learning support teacher arranges help at school.

Should I get a tutor for my child with dyslexia?

A tutor trained in structured literacy can teach reading and spelling well, and homework, assignments and school subjects are a tutor's work. If your child also has trouble with spoken language, or nobody has yet worked out why reading is hard, start with an assessment from a speech pathologist or a psychologist.

How much does a dyslexia tutor cost?

One state SPELD tutor register lists weekly session fees of $80 to $130 (read 15 November 2026). Tutors set their own fees, so ask for the full cost. Dyslexia tutoring with Dr Lauren is speech pathology and is $193 a session, with an assessment first.

Can an occupational therapist help with dyslexia?

An occupational therapist helps with handwriting, pencil grip and coordination, which some children with dyslexia also find hard. An occupational therapist does not teach reading or spelling and does not diagnose dyslexia.

Can a teacher diagnose dyslexia?

No. A teacher or tutor can screen for a possible difficulty and put support in place, but AUSPELD says the diagnosis itself should be made by a psychologist. A teacher's records of what has been tried are part of what the psychologist looks at.

Dr Lauren Crumlish (PhD)

Certified Practising Speech Pathologist. She works with children and teenagers on reading, spelling and the spoken language underneath, online across Australia.

About Dr Lauren