Kelly Ripa and Mark feared son Joaquin would never go to college because of his dyslexia

Kelly Ripa is opening about the challenges her youngest son faces as he prepares for college this fall. 

Speaking about her son Joaquin, 17, on Live with Kelly and Ryan on Wednesday, Kelly, 50, explained that he suffers from dyslexia and dysgraphia, the latter affecting a person’s writing abilities.

‘Joaquin is trying to decide on a college right now, and he’s got lots of options,’ Kelly said.

The TV host has three children with husband Mark Consuelos.

‘Mark and I were FaceTiming the other night … Mark got very emotional, and very choked up, because he said, “You know, I never thought he would be able to go to college.” Because he was profoundly dyslexic and dysgraphic,’Kelly said.

Kelly said that Joaquin has been able to overcome his difficulties through ‘hard work, determination, [and] remediation,’ and that the ‘misunderstood learning difference,’ has actually been a ‘blessing’ for their family.

‘But, kids with dyslexia learn how to read the room, they pick up on social cues … their other skills become [stronger],’ she said.

Kelly and Michael’s eldest son Michael, 23, graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts last year and their daughter Lola, 19, is in her sophomore year at NYU. 

Kelly added that she never doubted Joaquin would get into college but she has no plans to have an empty nest when he moves out.

‘They keep coming back,’ she joked about her children. 

Last summer, Mark revealed to PEOPLE that Joaquin had been studying for the ACT and SAT exams and working on college applications, with Kelly adding that their youngest son ‘sparks all the debates in the house about anything – political, social, environmental, poetry.’