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The Dyslexia-Friendly Font Myth.

This blog is an expanded version of a post I recently shared in the Dyslexia Victoria Support Facebook group. As the Founder of DVS, I often see well-meaning advice circulating among parents, educators and librarians, including the persistent idea that changing the font can somehow fix the reading challenges associated with dyslexia. I understand where it comes from. But we need to be clear: it’s not supported by evidence.



Fonts Don’t Fix Dyslexia


There’s a stubborn myth still floating around schools, libraries, and some homes that changing the font can somehow fix the reading struggles that come with dyslexia and other literacy difficulties. It's well-meaning, I get that. But it's simply not true.

Let’s be clear, dyslexia is not a “font problem.”


Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental condition. It’s defined by ongoing difficulties with accurate and fluent word recognition, poor spelling, and trouble with decoding words. These difficulties aren’t because of what the words look like, but because of how the brain processes the sounds in language. That’s called phonological processing, and it’s the core issue in dyslexia. It’s not about flipping letters or how the letters are shaped.

Still, we see so-called “dyslexia-friendly” fonts like OpenDyslexic and Dyslexie being pushed as solutions. They show up in school handouts, library shelves, and even picture books aimed at dyslexic readers. But the big question is, do they actually help?


What the Research Says


The short answer is no. The research is clear.


A 2016 study by Wery and Diliberto tested the OpenDyslexic font with students who had dyslexia. They found no improvement in reading speed or accuracy. A 2020 systematic review by Kuster and colleagues examined several of these fonts, including Dyslexie, and reached the same conclusion. They reported no gains in performance. Their review stated clearly, “There is currently no evidence that these fonts lead to improved reading performance. Font preference is not the same as reading performance.”


In some cases, children may say the font looks nicer or feels easier to read, but that doesn’t mean they actually read faster or more accurately. In fact, many participants in these studies preferred standard fonts like Arial or Verdana over the stylised ones.


There is some evidence that increasing the spacing between letters or words can help with readability. But that benefit is not unique to special fonts. The same effect can be achieved just by adjusting spacing in a regular font.


A 2022 study using eye-tracking suggested that adult readers with dyslexia might have slightly better comprehension using OpenDyslexic on long texts, but this did not translate to faster reading or improved decoding. That finding has not been widely replicated and should be seen as preliminary, not a green light for schools to adopt the font as a solution.

A 2013 study by French and colleagues found that while font changes may affect performance slightly, those effects vary significantly based on reading ability, and that dyslexic readers did not consistently benefit more from specialised fonts compared to standard ones.


What the Experts Say


The experts are clear as well.

Dr Tim Shanahan, a leading reading researcher, says the whole idea that these fonts work is based on a false understanding of dyslexia as a visual issue. “There’s no evidence that any of these fonts provide a measurable benefit. The theory behind them is flawed, and the data just doesn’t support it.”


Dr Guinevere Eden, a neuroscientist at Georgetown University who studies dyslexia and brain imaging, reinforces the point that dyslexia is a phonological processing issue. “Dyslexia is not a visual disorder. It’s a language-based learning difference, and interventions need to reflect that.”


Professor Stanislas Dehaene, in Reading in the Brain, writes:“All readers, dyslexic or not, must learn to ignore the irrelevant visual variations in letters – the countless fonts, styles, and cases – in order to recognise the same letter shapes quickly and effortlessly. This is not a weakness in dyslexic readers, but part of the universal challenge of becoming literate.”


Alison Clarke, speech pathologist and founder of Spelfabet, notes:“There is barely any empirical evidence for Dyslexie font, though recent Macquarie University research suggests that extra space between its letters is what makes it easier to read. You can add space between letters in a word processor to achieve this without having to buy a special font.”


Lyn Stone, literacy specialist and author, includes special fonts on her list of interventions that are not evidence-based:“Don’t waste your money, time and effort on: coloured lenses/overlays, Reading Recovery, LLI, ‘brain-training’ apps.”


The International Dyslexia Association also states that there is no scientific basis for using special fonts as an intervention.


Visual Clutter vs. Clarity


Ironically, many of these fonts are harder to read. They are often heavy, uneven, or overly decorative. For students who already have difficulty tracking or decoding, this just makes things worse.

Clear, familiar fonts like Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, or Century Gothic are generally more readable. They have even spacing and simple shapes. But even the clearest font is no substitute for effective teaching.


What Actually Helps


What actually helps students with dyslexia is not a different font. It is explicit, systematic instruction.

This means teaching using Systematic Structured Phonics (SSP) and Explicit Teaching (ET). These approaches are backed by decades of research. They were recommended in Australia’s National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy (2005), the UK’s Rose Review (2006), and the Grattan Institute’s Ending the Lesson Lottery report in 2023.

Font choice will not teach a child to decode phonemes, blend sounds, spell accurately, type fluently, or build oral language. Instruction will.


Why the Font Myth Persists


This myth keeps popping up because fonts are easy. They are a simple, visible way to signal that something is being done. They feel inclusive. But inclusion is not about how something looks. It is about whether the approach actually helps.


The idea is also pushed by marketing. Some publishers and educational companies promote books printed in these fonts. They claim the books are more accessible for struggling readers.

That message is often aimed at parents and schools who are looking for answers. I understand that. But that does not mean the claims are backed by science.

There’s also no evidence that these fonts improve long-term reading outcomes. In fact, relying on them may delay children from getting the structured intervention they actually need. Families deserve better than products sold on repackaged hope.


The Emotional Impact of Dyslexia Fonts


While dyslexia-friendly fonts are often promoted as tools to aid reading, they can sometimes lead to unintended emotional consequences. According to Youki Terada (2022), writing for Edutopia, “when students with dyslexia are told that a special font will help them read better, but they don’t experience any improvement, it can lead to feelings of failure and self-doubt.” That disappointment may erode confidence and motivation, especially when the promised results don’t materialise.


Final Word


If a child prefers a particular font and it helps them feel more comfortable, there is no harm in letting them use it.


But we should never tell a student or parent that a font will fix dyslexia, or that all children with dyslexia improve their reading experiences by using it. That’s just not true.

The real support comes from instruction that is clear, structured, and grounded in what works. Fancy fonts may look like progress, but they are not a replacement for good teaching.


References


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