Dyslexia

Dyslexia Screening & Consultation

As a certified Barton Dyslexia Consultant and Specialist I am able to conduct an in-depth, accurate screening (using genetic, developmental, and educational history provided by parents; report cards; prior testing; schoolwork samples; and several screening tools) to find out if your child or teenager “fits the dyslexia profile,” determine your child's/teen's severity level, and write an excellent 12-page report for public or private schools.

If Dyslexia is prevalent, I consult with parents on how to explain dyslexia to your child/teen, using the right type of tutoring, using audio books and technology for reading and spelling support, implementing classroom and homework accommodations, and discuss resources that are available to learn more.

Please contact me below if you are interested in beginning the screening process.

Screening & Consultation

Definition

Definition of Dyslexia

Definition of Dyslexia provided by the International Dyslexia Association

“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”

What is Dyslexia? by Kelli Sandman-Hurley

Dyslexia At a Glance provided by the International Dyslexia Association

Having a child diagnosed with dyslexia can be a traumatic experience. While dyslexia can make reading more difficult, with the right instruction, almost all individuals with dyslexia can learn to read. Many people with dyslexia have gone on to accomplish great things. Among the many dyslexia success stories are Thomas Edison, Stephen Spielberg, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Charles Schwab.

Dyslexia is a neurological condition caused by a different wiring of the brain. There is no cure for dyslexia and individuals with this condition must learn coping strategies. Research indicates that dyslexia has no relationship to intelligence. Individuals with dyslexia are neither more nor less intelligent than the general population. But some say the way individuals with dyslexia think can actually be an asset in achieving success.

In public school settings where many teachers are not knowledgeable about this condition, students with dyslexia may be considered stupid or lazy. Parents who have children diagnosed with dyslexia should seek out reading instruction that is based upon a systematic and explicit understanding of language structure, including phonics. This reading instruction goes by many names, Structured Literacy, Orton- Gillingham, Simultaneous Multisensory, Explicit Phonics, and others.

Dyslexia At a Glance

At a Glance

Dyslexia and the Brain by Understood

Dyslexia Warning Signs

Warning Signs

If a child has 3 or more of the following warning signs, encourage that child’s parents and teachers to learn more about dyslexia. Please visit http://www.dys-add.com/index.html and watch the video called “Symptoms and Solutions.”

In Preschool

Delayed speech
Mixing up the sounds and syllables in long words
Articulation difficulties (r-l, m-n, s-sh-ch) and worked with a speech therapist
Stuttering
Chronic ear infections
Severe reactions to childhood illnesses
Constant confusion with left verses right
Late establishing a dominant hand
Difficulty learning to ties shoes
Difficulty memorizing the names of the letters and the sounds they make
Trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet
Can’t create words that rhyme
A close relative also struggles with reading, spelling, and writing

In Elementary School

Dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read)
Letter or number reversals continuing past the end of first grade
Extreme difficulty learning cursive
Slow, choppy, inaccurate reading
- Guesses based on shape or context or picture clues
- Skips or misreads prepositions (at, to, of)
- Ignores suffixes
- Can’t sound out unknown words-despite being taught phonics
Terrible spelling
- When writing sentences and stories; even misspells high frequency words
- Cannot retain spelling words from one week to the next
- Often writes the wrong homonym
Difficulty telling time with a clock with hands
Trouble with math
- Memorizing math facts or multiplication tables
- Memorizing sequence of steps
- Directionality
- Can’t read the word problems
When speaking, difficulty finding the correct word
- Lots of “whatyamacallits” and “thingies”
- Common sayings come out slightly twisted
Extremely messy bedroom, backpack, and desk
Dreads going to school
- Complains of stomach aches or headaches
- May have nightmares about school
Extremely poor written expression
- Written expression not at all similar to oral expression
Homework takes forever
- Unable to do homework without assistance

In High School

All of the above symptoms plus:

Difficulty copying off the board
- Can only copy one or two letters at a time
- Often loses his/her place when copying
- Makes mistakes when copying
Difficulty with near-point copying
- Can only copy one or two letters at a time
- Often loses her place when copying
- Makes mistakes when copying
Extreme difficulty taking notes during lectures

Limited vocabulary
Extremely poor written expression
- Large discrepancy between verbal skills and written compositions
Unable to master a foreign language
Difficulty reading printed music
Poor grades in many classes
May drop out of high school