
What are Multisensory Structured Language (MSL) and the Orton-Gillingham (OG) therapy approaches?
Originally developed by Dr Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham in the 1920s, the Orton-Gillingham approach (OG) remains the most effective therapy for the remediation of language-based learning difficulties. Also referred to as Multisensory Structured Language (MSL), OG is heralded as “the gold standard for the treatment and remediation of dyslexia” by the Australian Dyslexia Association.
MSL and OG therapy provide the basis for our approach to treatment at LAB Learning Clinic.

What sets MSL and OG Therapy apart
What sets MSL and OG Therapy apart are the guiding principles of:
- Personalised Learning
- Multisensory
- Diagnostic and Prescriptive
- Direct and Explicit
- Systematic, Structured and Sequential
- Cognitively and Emotionally sound
The guiding Principles of MSL & OG Therapy
Personalised Learning
Initial assessments conducted at your first appointment support developing an individualised literacy or numeracy plan: your child’s unique strengths and areas of weakness are identified and supported within each session.
Multisensory
Visual – Auditory – Kinesthetic
We believe in engaging children actively in their learning. They need to be up loving, doing and interacting with activities that strengthen and support memory.
We begin with a child’s modality of strength and develop the weaker modality.
Diagnostic and Prescriptive
Each session is designed and paced to meet the specific needs of your child. At LAB Learning Clinic, our therapists use diagnostic information gained throughout each session to support future planning.
Direct and Explicit
Explicit instruction is systematic, direct, engaging, and success oriented. Explicit instruction ensures that the student approaches every learning experience with an understanding of: what is to be learned, why it is to be learned and how it is to be learned.
Systematic, Structured and Sequential
Systematic and synthetic phonics is imperative when supporting struggling learners. Initially, students need to master the sound/ symbol relationship of our language. They then need to understand how the syntax and grammatical structures of our language come together.
Cognitively and Emotionally Sound
How children feel about themselves and their learning is vital. Therefore, our therapists work towards providing experiences of success. As students begin to succeed, confidence grows, and students better understand the strategies that support their unique learning styles.

“As fast as you can, as slow as you must”
– Anna Gillingham
Fact Fact sheet links about OG Therapy :

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