Dyslexia Help

[WIS0320]

I tried searching the forum but I still am not finding the new board to be good with searches, so I hope I am not asking an often repeated question!

 

My 7 year old was diagnosed in the spring via a child psych with low processing and possible dyslexia (via the WISC IV). She was 6 at the time of testing and we decided to not pursue further testing to get a firm diagnosis as we are homeschooling and she's making progress.

 

In the last few months she's made great progress with reading in general. We use Phonics Road and have stayed in the last 12 weeks of Level 1 for repeated drilling of spelling rules as it has helped her with reading fluidity. I think general development has helped as well. When I "test" using an online reading test that uses single words only she is testing about 4th grade level. She doesn't have trouble decoding isolated words for the most part, thanks to PR. However, when she is reading aloud she is having considerable trouble still reading through to the end of words, especially if they have a suffix ending, she almost always skips easy sight words like "of", "the", "and, "or", "is", etc. and she is still very often subbing in words that are not on the page for other words that make sense.

 

She points to each word as she reads (or I point) and she still very much prefers easy picture books to anything more challenging as it is so, so much work for her. I get it and I am NOT pushing! However, I would really like to help her get to a point where she can enjoy reading and not feel like her brain is on fire from the effort.

 

Help! I remember one time reading about some kind of special rainbow bookmark thing that helps dyslexic kids read. Any other advice?

[merry gardens]

Hello. It's great that your child is making progress with reading and that you've taught her with a phonics program.

 

 

Sight words like "of, the, or, is" aren't exactly easy. They are sight words and none of those four exactly follow the rule of phonics--or they follow more advanced rules that might confuse a young reader prone to dyslexia, like the s says /z/ and r influence the vowel in front of it). "And" ends in a blend with the final sound very quick. Those supposedly simple words can be very confusing to some emerging readers! I point out to mine that either the words are "cheaters" or that they follow less common phonics rules. And we cover the phonic rules in great detail! We use an Orton-Gillingham program, and O-G is the best thing I can suggest for someone with dyslexia. I know the O-G program we use, so I point out to my children at what level we'll cover those rules in more detail and just tell them what sounds the letters say. Most letters in sight words do follow phonics rules; it's usually only one or two letters that don't. Some programs handle those words by writing the problem letter in red or marking it to draw the child's attention, so they will know that the rest follow the rules. Introduce them just a few words at a time and until she's covered those words, you can say them for her when she comes across them in her reading.

 

Also, for people who think more concretely, it's hard to picture those words. What exactly is a "the"?--well, "the" is an article, (bla, bla, bla, grammar rules), but at the end of it, there's still nothing that's exactly tangible about words like "the" or "of". Some kids need to learn the meaning of those words--in ways that mean something to them--in order for them to have an easier time reading them. I used some workbooks from Seeing Stars, (a Lindamood-Bell reading program) that included brief definitions. The Davis dyslexia method takes an usual approach of having children build little words like that with clay figures. I'm not a huge fan of the Davis method, (and if you decide to look into it, make sure you cover your bases with solid phonics programs, which Davis is not), but that approach to building clay figures to make sure a child comprehends basic vocabulary words may be helpful for some.

 

The bookmark sounds like something for people whose reading problem is caused by eye problems rather than "true" dyslexia. Some people report having an easier time reading with color filters. It's Irlen Syndrome or Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrom and I believe it's somewhat controversial, although if it helps some people read-- great. I've read a couple book from the library on that, but I don't recall all the specifics yet I remember it didn't sound like something that would be helpful for my dyslexic child.

 

A word of caution-- watch out for people and programs who promise to "cure" dyslexia. If you're child really has dyslexia, she will be able to learn to read and write, but even after a dyslexic learns to read, dyslexia tends to express itself in different ways. Best of luck to you.

[Plink]

I have my dyslexic DD read using a notched card (simply an index card with the top left corner cut out, about 1inch across and 1/3 inch down) EVERY time words are in front of her. She needs the training to look at each and every sound working from left to right. It slows her down and forces her to sound out the words rather than guess the endings. She also tends to notice herself skipping words with the notched card, and will often self-correct.

 

It is painfully slow, but 100% accuracy is our goal, and guessing was only hindering her progress. Between the notched-card and the Barton system, we are seeing her succeed.

 

Okay, I just re-read my description of the notched card, and it isn't very clear. If you need a photo, just let me know.

[Reya]

Yay! An easy one! :)

 

Make a window in an index card as tall as a single line of the book she's reading and as wide as 3-4 words. Have her slide it along as she reads.

 

This is incredibly common. It is caused by a difficulty narrowing attention when there is too much stimulation on the page. I needed the same thing for several months, and I ended up with a 12th grade reading level before I turned 9. :)

[Reya]

BTW, "once a dyslexic, always a dyslexic" is true to some extent, but it doesn't mean that dyslexics cannot attain excellent reading levels. Reading is actually not the "tough" part of classic dyslexia. Reading troubles are a symptom of the underlying problem, and they can be addressed very successfully.

 

I can't ever know left from right instinctively. EVER. That's a direct expression of the underlying deficit. But I made a perfect score on the verbal portion of the SAT.

[Plink]

Reya and I are talking about the same thing, but her explanation of the notched card is much better. Do what she said ;)

[WIS0320]

Thank you for the index card idea!!

[herekittykitty]

I second the index card approach. We did it for awhile with a piece of cardboard - same basic thing. That technique is actually part of the Davis method of "sweep reading". It's supposed to help train the eye, and for us it did (along with vision therapy, which is turned out to be more expensive than cardboard, haha). After the cardboard got tedious, I put that away and started "sweeping" each word with my thumb - actually running my thumb over the word, not under it. Now we use a piece of cardboard just below each line. We have been using this technique for about a year with very good results.