Visual Processing Disorder Q's

[Mere2]

My DD is having problems in learning to read (we are using Dancing Bears which is going OK). So we saw a behavioural optomerist who did a visual processing disorder test. The tests revealed no promblems with her vision :001_smile: So they dont suspect dyslexia.

 

The optomerist compared her scores with other children (age group). Now whilst I understand this comparison, I dont really understand it :confused: On the test results DD vision skills are twice her age group, but what does this really mean? How can you be twice your age group...... Surely if her vision processing skills are that good, then why can't or wont she read?!

 

Any insights into what this really means or doesn't mean, LOL ?

 

TIA

Fi

[Laurie4b]

The vast majority of children with reading disorders do not have visual problems, but problems with phonemic awareness. (A smaller number of children may have visual processing issues, but that is not the most likely cause.)

 

Do NOT accept an optometrist's assessment that your child does not have dyslexia. They typically use one screening test (in which a child simply reads words) and their visual processing tests. They do not have the expertise to either diagnose or rule out dyslexia . They use a test that no one other than optometrists use to measure reading achievement, for instance. If it was well normed and really useful, it would be in common use as it is very quick. Thankfully, the dev. optometrist didn't try to give you services that you didn't need.

 

Age rankings are not the best way to deliver test scores. Professionals use standard scores and percentile rankings. However, a score double her age probably means that she is near the top of the normal curve in visual processing. This is actually a fairly common pattern for bright kids with dyslexia--that their visual-spatial skills are higher than average.

 

To get a minimal assessment, you need some kind of reading achievement test, such as the Woodcock Johnson achievement tests, or Woodcock Johnson Tests of Reading Mastery combined with the CTOPPS. Typically, an IQ test would also be done, but the first two tests are cheaper and if there is a problem with dyslexia there, those two tests will likely indicate it. The CTOPPs has indicators of phonemic awareness plus a test of rapid naming. Those two categories (phonemic awareness and rapid naming) are the ones you really need to know about. Phonemic awareness will also show up on the Woodcock Johnson, though indirectly. Typical scores of a child with dyslexia will have reading comprehension & vocabularly as the highest scores, with word attack, fluency, and word identification much lower.

 

You can get the Woodcock Johnson and CTOPPs done by someone who is not an educational psychologist or a neuropsychologist, so it can be cheaper. Special education teachers and reading tutors, for instance, can give those tests. Speech and language pathologists often administer the CTOPPs. If your dd does show a pattern that indicates dyslexia on those tests, then, depending on her age, it might be worthwhile to get the WISC-IV done for future reference.

 

There is a free publication online that will explain what we know about learning to read (and hence about dyslexia) called Put Reading First. http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/reading_first1.html You can order a free hard copy.

[LizzyBee]

Here is another website that has tons of information about dyslexia: http://www.dys-add.com/

 

There is a yahoo group that might be helpful: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartofReading/

[cillakat]

2nd the other info you've received. The gold standard in testing for reading difficulties isn't done by an optometrist but by a neurophychologist or preferably (imo) an educational psychologist. Ideally it will include IQ testing as well as acheivement testing, the CTOPP and the GORT......so at least those four.

 

The evidence based intervention for dyselxia is intensive, direct instruction, systematic, multi-sensory phonics......some of the programs in use are Barton, Wilson, HEC Reading Horizons for home use. There are others as well, those are the ones that come to mind right away. For remediating dyslexia, time is of the essence - iow, early intervention is critical. There's no reason to delay, even without a 'diagnosis' you can go ahead with one of the above programs.

 

Sally Shaywitz' book _Overcoming Dyselxia_ is phenominal. Overwhelming, but phenominal.

 

Fwiw, typical phonics programs won't do the trick.....more intensity, repetition and a multisensory component is necessary.

 

:)

K

[Ottakee]

Check out http://www.roadstoeverywhere.com/3RsPlusRead.html for a reading program that is very good. I use this first and then reinforce with the Dancing Bears. These books are more stories and appeal more to kids than the word lists of Dancing Bears.

 

Make sure you use the notched card if she needs that.

[ajjkt]

The behavioural optomestrists can reveal 'weaknesses' that can predispose to reading challenges, but there are other areas that they do not cover that can predispose to reading delays/weaknesses.

 

FWIW, my DD6 has very low visual perception but is reading very well. She will probably need occupational therapy and vision therapy to assist her. She has fallen through 4 windows, down escalators at the shops etc. I counted one day how many times she walked into the door instead of through it - it totalled 14 times (a good day). I have had everything tested by OTs and optometrists, it all comes back to visual perception.

[mktyler]

Another good book to read to get a different perspective on reading problems is "Why Our Children Can't Read and What We Can Do About It" by Diane McGuinness.

 

I second Ottakee's suggestion of the I See Sam books and the use of the notched card. Several studies from MIT confirm that this type of intervention, that is controlling the visual input as a student is reading, is extremely helpful.

 

Melissa

Minnesota

Reading Program Junkie

dd(10) dd(6) ds(4) ds(1)