Dyslexia Treatment
Preparing for Dyslexia Screening
Dyslexia, a common learning disorder affects many Americans. If diagnosed early, the concomitant conditions may be effectively treated and dyslexia itself, managed with suitable learning skills to ensure the optimum growth of the individual. The main reason why dyslexia should be diagnosed early is that this is a disability, which has far reaching emotional and social consequences on the life of the patient and a failure to diagnose it early will affect a person in many ways.
Since it is a common learning disorder, screening and subsequent detailed assessment, if necessary are mandatory by law. Screening for dyslexia maybe done either at the behest of the parents, in the case of a child, or by self-assessment, in case of adults who believe themselves to be dyslexic. Either way, the pattern of testing remains the same, with an initial screening and a subsequent detailed examination by a qualified psychologist.
Screening tests maybe done through a list of questions, which are put to the individual being screened and the person further referred, if he answers in the affirmative. These questions include:
- Do you have a family history of dyslexia?
- Do you face difficulties in spelling?
- Do you face difficulties in writing in any way?
- Do you try to avoid situations in which you maybe expected to read and write?
In case of children, the questions maybe put to the parents and may include the following:
- Do any of your other children suffer from dyslexia?
- Has you child ever tried to avoid attending school?
- Is your child comfortable with his/her peers?
- Does your child try to avoid reading?
It is important to prepare oneself even before the screening tests, so that the subsequent tests are easy. After an initial referral, the doctor may recommend a visit either to an opthalmologist, an otolaryngologist or a neurologist to rule out organic visual, auditory or cerebral disorders as the case maybe.
Before meeting the doctor, it is important to have the following checklist
- Write down the symptoms, no matter how trivial they seem.
- Write down key personal information like any emotional or personal upheavals, which may have affected the child.
- Make a list of the dietary supplements that the child is taking, like vitamins or minerals.
- Ask a family member or a close friend along so that they can fill in the gaps in your knowledge, if any.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor, which may include the following: Will my other children suffer from dyslexia too?
- What are the further tests needed?
- How will the treatment take place?
- What are the latest methods of treatment?
If the person tests positive for any of the above, they are referred to detailed tests in language, spelling, grammar and math, which are carried out by a psychologist.
Nowadays, some special short computer games like ‘Lucid’ and ‘Smart Cat’ have been devised which enable easy screening in children, without having to revert to detailed and often boring questions.
With careful preparation, dyslexia can be caught early and managed effectively.
Posted in Dyslexia, Dyslexia Treatment
Dyslexia Testing Options
Dyslexia Tests and Testing options
In our last article we talked about the treatment options for Dyslexia, In this article let us look at the various dyslexia tests and options that are available to help in identifying the condition. Since nearly five to seven percent of the American population is believed to suffer from some forms of learning disabilities, testing for them becomes very important. According to Federal law, schools have to have a learning disability testing program in place to ensure that children are diagnosed early, so that immediate remedial steps to ensure their medical, social and emotional well- being may be taken.
The symptoms of learning disorders encompass a vast spectrum, ranging from dyslexia, ADHD, autism and emotional disturbances. Hence, it becomes very important to arrive at the right diagnosis to ensure that the right treatment is administered at the right time.
The tests for dyslexia are two fold
- Screening tests
- Comprehensive tests
Dyslexia Screening Tests
Screening tests are used exactly as the name suggests, to screen individuals who are believed to suffer from dyslexia. They do not provide any definitive diagnosis, but merely serve as pointers towards more detailed assessment in case of individuals believed to be suffering from dyslexia. They consist of simple questions to be answered by the individual and give an insight into his/her disability. These questions are generally as follows:
- Do you have difficulties with spelling?
- Do you find directions confusing?
- Do you have difficulties with math?
- Were you reluctant to go to school at any time?
The last question is generally asked in case of a suspected adult dyslexic.
Comprehensive Dyslexia Tests
In case of a positive screening test, a comprehensive test is necessary, which actually consists of several tests assessing reading, comprehension, grammar, spelling and mathematical abilities, in addition to hearing and visual tests to rule out any organic disorders. They maybe carried out by the following organizations:
- Schools: as stated above, it is mandatory for schools to carry out comprehensive tests if requested for by the parents/guardians of a student. They are carried out by an educational psychologist employed by the local authorities in association with the school.
- Private Professionals: in case the school does not have the proper channels in place, it becomes necessary to approach a private psychologist or psychiatrist, with special training in administering dyslexia tests. Approaching the Dyslexia Institute, now termed Dyslexia Action is helpful, because these professionals not only provide a psychological assessment and specialist therapy, but also provides teacher training and educational literature on dyslexia.
- Job Center: this is screening done for employees or for suspected dyslexics, actively seeking employment, who are not undergoing any training.
- Further/ Higher Education: for suspected dyslexics seeking admission to college or for higher training in any field.
Comprehensive tests again may be carried out face to face or remotely and a complete assessment file on the suspected person is compiled. This gives a complete idea on the learning abilities of the individual. The only advantage of a face to face assessment is that an emotional evaluation of the patient may be done at the same time.
With a large number of tests in place for dyslexia testing, it is easy to detect it early and take corrective measures to ensure a productive life for the individual.
Posted in Dyslexia, Dyslexia Treatment
Tagged dyslexia, dyslexia tests, Treating Dyslexia
Dyslexia Treatment Options
Treatment for Dyslexia
It is believed that although nearly 15% of Americans suffer from various forms of dyslexia, less than 5% are diagnosed and treated early. Now covering a plethora of symptoms, various manifestations of dyslexia are clubbed under the name of “slow learning disorders”.
Dyslexia can be diagnosed at any age from childhood to adulthood. However, for a person to become a well -adjusted and productive member of society, it is essential to start treatment as soon as possible.
Since the exact causes of dyslexia are still to be ascertained, treatment is more limited to managing the symptoms, rather than preventing or curing the condition. Treatment of dyslexia is primarily aims at overcoming the learning difficulties, which the individual faces. Early diagnosis is helpful because if treatment is initiated at the earliest, the social and emotional development of the person proceeds apace. Hence, in the management of dyslexia, it is important to consider the impact of the condition on the life of the individual in total, rather than focusing on the learning disabilities alone.
Treatment for dyslexia aims at overcoming the learning disabilities. Since these individuals have poor language, poor verbal and poor writing skills, special learning aids and techniques are beneficial. Dyslexia maybe diagnosed when a child starts formal schooling, in which it is found to have poor reading skills, tendency to mix letters up, poor speech, mixing up of right and left sides, sometimes associated with poor hearing, vision and lack of concentration.
In keeping with the widespread incidence of dyslexia in the population, federal law requires that these individuals receive special schooling apart from their normal counterparts, for although dyslexics may have normal or above normal intelligence, they have difficulty in putting their thoughts in words or speech in the normal way. The Individualized Education Program ensures this until the age of 16, after which these children are further prepared for higher education or employment as the case maybe.
In the special education program, a child psychologist and a special educator thoroughly assess the child and after a series of tests, come up with an education program tailored to the child`s needs, depending on the specific disability which the child has.
Verbal exercises are found to benefit many, with different components like rhyming exercises, bending words into sounds, word matching, picking out verbal sounds from words and making out differences in spoken sounds. In some cases, repetition of words and writing words have been found to be very beneficial. Reading aloud to the child, playing spelling games and learning after setting the curriculum to music have also found to benefit dyslexics greatly.
An individual approach to each patient, be it in the form of using specially developed soft ware or teaching while involving a pet in the proceedings, or marking left or right in a pair of shoes, is always found to be a great help.
Medical treatment be it in the form of antihistamines, anti motion sickness drugs, or various vitamin or mineral supplements is doubtful at best and dubious at worst. The DORE program developed by the British also involved repetition in an attempt to carry out reading and writing at a cerebellar level, but did not show good results.
With special attention paid to their educational needs, dyslexics can lead well integrated lives in main stream society and show case their often surprising talents, all it requires is a little patience.
Posted in Dyslexia, Dyslexia Treatment
Tagged dyslexia, dyslexia tests, Treating Dyslexia