What do you say to someone who tells you that phonics doesn't help dyslexics at alll?

[Hikin' Mama]

Especially when you have spent the last many, many years of your life using remedial phonics programs to help your dyslexic child be a better reader. And when you've read tons of books on the subject and this other person has only read one, Gift of Dyslexia by Davis, and only helped one child ( not their own) for a couple years. Now I also read the Davis book and I have read success stories using this method, but I have also read that it doesn't work for everyone. After reading it and inquiring here, I decided to keep at the OG methods we were using, because I didn't think it would work for my daughter. Maybe I just needed to vent, because this person irritates me in other ways, too. But if it ever comes up again, I want to be able to give a coherent, non-emotional, and gracious response. As it was, I was just mad and said nothing, which is the best course of action for me when I'm mad. :)

[LifeLovePassion]

ignore them as best you can. Hang in there!

[twinmami01]

ignore them as best you can. Hang in there!

 

 

This. Ignore them. You already know what's best for your child. It's easy for others to think they know what's best for your child.

[RamonaQ]

I would say nothing. You know what works for you and your child.

[Heathermomster]

Well, if a child has unremediated convergence or binocular vision issues, phonics instruction probably woud not work. How could it? Letters jump around all over the place for some kids, and that is why it's best to rule out vision (and hearing) problems. Visual and auditory processing affect instruction as well.

 

I wish there was a one size fits all learning solution. Life would be so much simpler.

[AnIslandGirl]

I'd say, "I'm sorry it hasn't worked for you, we've seen fantastic results!"

 

[Lecka]

I would mention the cat scans you can see of brains before and after remediation. I would look for a magazine article on the Internet talking about a research study that used a phonics-style intervention.

 

To me that is proof that it helps some children.

 

However if she is aware you have looked into it and just not picked the same thing as her, then that is not likely to help. I might go with a "I know we disagree so let's not discuss it" thing and try to change the subject.

[FLDebbie]

I wish there was a one size fits all learning solution. Life would be so much simpler.

 

 

And wouldn't that be nice? O-G based phonics instruction has done wonders for my dyslexic son's reading ability. Like the other posters have said, just try to ignore him.

[herekittykitty]

I can totally relate. But ironically, we do Davis methods and I get just the opposite for comments! To me it seems like Davis is the "black sheep" of methods... I hear that my son should still be receiving O-G instruction and most often that he isn't "really" reading because he isn't sounding out words. I even had someone tell me that although he reads well, he's still reading "dyslexically" so it doesn't count. Sigh. I would just thank for them for the ideas and say that what you are doing is working really well for you. Hopefully that will be happy that you found what is right for your child.

[Butter]

Smile, nod, and ignore. Phonics works for many dyslexics. A combo of methods of all kinds combined and tailored has worked for my kid. It's very irritating when someone tells me x is all that works, particularly if they've really just read about it and don't have actual experience teaching a dyslexic to read.

[Hikin' Mama]

Thank you for the responses! The support of this board is awesome!

 

[nitascool]

I would tell them that I'm dyslexic and taught myself how to read using phonics. I have one child with some visual perception problems who I taught to read despite the fact that the letters move, float, have halos and change color on him.

 

If this person was a pain to me... I'd say, "Oh go take a flying leap." Or at least I'd think it. But since you want to be polite... Smile and Ignore is probably your best choice.