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| Home / For you / speech, language & motor services / speech therapy / | ||
| Information on Dyslexia & Effective Therapy to Treat It | ||
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Dyslexia (also called “language-based learning disability”)
is a specific learning disability that is neurologic in origin. It
is characterized by difficulty learning to read in spite of appropriate
intelligence and exposure to reading instruction. Some of the signs of dyslexia are: Preschool Difficulty finding the right word Difficulty retelling stories in sequence Difficulty separating the sounds in words Slow to learn to identify letters Difficulty with rhyming Early School Difficulty matching letters and sounds Difficulty reading single words Relies on guessing and context Trouble learning new vocabulary Confuses arithmetic signs (=, +, -) Middle Grades Reads below grade level Says “I don’t like to read” Homework takes an excessively long time to complete Difficulty with non-literal language, such as idioms Trouble with word problems in math High School Works slowly Misreads information Does not complete tests Difficulty summarizing and outlining Adulthood Has an excellent memory Spells poorly Difficulty with planning & organizing Hides reading problems or avoids reading tasks If you suspect your child may be dyslexic, a comprehensive evaluation of language-base learning skills should be performed by a qualified speech-language pathologist. The evaluation will likely last between one and four hours and will identify strengths and weaknesses with the following skills:
How Does Therapy Work? HSDC offers individual and group treatment for reading disorders. These sessions target the heart of reading disabilities: Phonemic awareness is the ability to separate words into individual sounds, and blend individual sounds into words. What makes words such as “played” and “blade” similar, and what makes them different? Targeted listening activities give a boost to the development of the area of the brain responsible for this skill. Phonics is the ability to associate a letter with its given sound(s). How should you pronounce “doe?” How should you pronounce “dough?” Activities at this level focus on decoding nonsense syllables and words in order to learn how to break the reading code. Fluency involves reading quickly and accurately. Reading accurately makes reading informative; reading quickly makes it fun. Increasing speed involves repeated oral reading with feedback, sight word instruction, and increasing speed with specific listening activities. Vocabulary development is crucial for progressing in reading at an age-appropriate level. Word-finding skills are targeted in activities designed to develop rapid sound and meaning associations between words, such as plant, planting, plantation, planter, and power plant. Comprehension focuses on strategies for chunking information, visualizing the picture being painted by the words, and formulating inferences and conclusions. At this level, work focuses on the whole text. At HSDC, making reading a complete, rewarding, and enjoyable experience is our overall goal that guides every decision made in treatment. Materials are chosen that suit each individual’s interests and needs, from Harry Potter to Harry S. Truman. We use our professional skills to share our enjoyment of reading with our clients. If you live in the Seattle or Puget Sound area and would like to come in for a free screening or an evaluation with one of the therapists in our speech pathology department, please contact us at:
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