Dr. Forgan’s insight on dyslexia

Dyslexics Talk Better Than They Write

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If your child has dyslexia he or she is probably stronger about talking and weaker at putting thoughts and ideas down in writing.  Do you read your child’s writing and think to yourself, “Why does he/she write so simply?”  If that’s the case your child may benefit from using a standard feature on the Apple computers (we use the MacBook) when using the Mountain Lion operating system.  Apple now has a built in accessibility feature that allows an individual to talk to the computer and the computer will type the speech.

It’s so cool that the voice to text software is standard in Apple computers.  A few years ago I purchased a stand alone speech to text software for my son to use and he used it to write  his spelling sentences each week and for many writing assignments.  Using this software takes some getting used to but the improvement in your child’s writing can be phenomenal!  I know for my child he writes by hand using simple words so that he does not make a lot of spelling mistakes.  Now by talking and allowing the computer to type his writing is much better.

How to set up voice to text in your Apple computer

dyslexia tutoring

Dyslexia Tutoring in Jupiter & Palm Beach Gardens Florida

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Tutoring and teaching children with dyslexia is a speciality.  If you have a child with dyslexia then you can be certain that if your child works with the right dyslexia tutor he or she can obtain great results.  I’ve seen amazing dyslexia tutoring results first hand with my own child.  When my child started tutoring I was discouraged and deeply concerned that he might not ever love reading.  Over time my discouragement turned into encouragement because he started to enjoy reading as he gained new skills and increased confidence.   No longer did he feel like other kids were smarter than him.  He could hold his own reading right along with the good readers in his class.  The best part is that he still reads on grade level today–six years later.  The dyslexia teaching methods worked and dyslexia tutoring was worth every cent.

Dyslexia Tutoring: What it Takes to Work

The Barton and Wilson Reading Systems are the gold standard for dyslexia. They work and are documented via independent research and you can find that through a google search or on the Bartonreading.com or wilsonlanguage.com websites.  If you want the program to help your child overcome dyslexia, read on grade level, and have age appropriate spelling then you must commit to tutoring twice a week for 50-60 minutes per session.   If you invest the time and money your child will learn.  He or she will learn to love to read and that can make you a happy parent.

Call or come in today.

Dyslexia Help in South Florida

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If you have dyslexia concerns about a child or loved one then you’ve come to the right place because I provide dyslexia help in the south Florida area. I am a Barton certified dyslexia testing specialist.  Very few professionals in the south Florida area are certified for dyslexia testing.  If you are paying for dyslexia testing then I recommend you work with a professional that is certified in that area.  Just because a person has an advanced degree does not mean they have the specialized dyslexia testing and training to help parents and children with dyslexia.  If you don’t work with a dyslexia specialist then the tester may not identify your child’s true needs and this could result in years of lost time doing things that don’t help kids with dyslexia.

I understand dyslexia as a professional and a parent because I have a child with dyslexia.  In addition, my wife is a certified teacher with a master’s degree in special education and she tutors children with dyslexia using one of the best reading programs to help dyslexic children overcome their dyslexia. You could say we are immersed in helping our own child and other children with dyslexia.

 My wife tutors and teaches children with dyslexia using the Barton Reading and Spelling System.  This is an Orton-Gillingham Influenced Simultaneously Multi-sensory Explicit and Systematic Phonics Program that was specifically designed to help children with dyslexia. My wife is a pro at getting children to read on grade level.  Teaching a child with dyslexia to read on grade level can be achieved if you have three key ingredients.

1. The right program
2. The right child-tutor match
3.  The right number of tutoring sessions per week for the right length of time.

Helping children with dyslexia (in south Florida) overcome their dyslexia and read on grade level typically takes 18-36 months.  This depends on the severity of the child’s dyslexia as well as if the child has any co-ocurring issues like ADD/ADHD or processing problems.  You

What does Dyslexia Testing Involve?

There is no one test for dyslexia testing.  If anybody tells you they test for dyslexia by using one just one test you’d better run.  Dyslexia testing requires using multiple tests and that’s because dyslexia affects more than just reading.  Your child needs his or her spelling tested, reading speed, reading comprehension, letter to sound knowledge, sound to letter knowledge, nonword reading, phonological processing, and more.  Dyslexia testing takes about 4 hours and that is done over 2 different days.  At the end of the testing you’ll know the best reading program to use with your child.  It might be one like the Barton Reading and Spelling System but your child may need a different reading program first.  Some kids have an extremely difficult time with hearing the difference in sounds and if this happens your child needs a different program first.  I’ll test to find out how to help your child best.  The earlier you start using these reading programs the better the outcome for your child.  Take action and don’t procrastinate any longer.

Contact me if you are ready to help your child with dyslexia testing or dyslexia tutoring.  Let’s get him or her reading on grade level. The investment of time and money is well worth it when your child feels good about him or herself and has the love of reading that remains with them for life.

Famous Dyslexics: Doctors, Lawyers, Actors and more

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Many famous or very successful people have dyslexia.  If you watch this short video you’ll hear that one of the keys for helping kids with dyslexia is early identification.  I am a certified dyslexia testing specialist in south Florida (Palm Beach).  Public schools don’t usually test for dyslexia so you are wise to seek out private testing because a child that is not identified early can struggle for years and these struggles can occur to the point where the child believes he or she is dumb.  Has your child said, “I’m not smart.  I’m not good at reading. Other kids make fun of me?”  Tuned in parents know there is something occurring with your child that is causing him or her to make these statements.  Dyslexia testing is an investment in your child’s future.  It provides insight, answers, and often feelings of relief.

Use the contact form above or call me to discuss dyslexia testing in south Florida for your child.

This video includes successful individuals with dyslexia that struggled in school or that were able to compensate in school but had high anxiety, frustration and tension.  Dyslexia testing is available in south Florida and I’ll identify the best reading programs for teaching your child to overcome his or her dyslexia.

 

Dyslexia- LD Testing in Jupiter, Stuart, Port St. Lucie

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My associates and I offer school neuropsychological evaluations for all types of learning disabilities including dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, processing problems, as well as evaluations for social-emotional concerns (self-esteem, anxiety, depression, attention, etc.). We work with families from all over Florida so if you are traveling from out of town, testing is completed in 1 day. We are licensed by the state so our reports are accepted in all Florida public and private schools.

Dyslexia is a language based learning disability that is neurological in origin and often related to genetics.  According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 15-20% of school age children have dyslexia.  This means dyslexia is in all Florida schools and in a class of 25 children as many as 5 children could have mild, moderate, or severe dyslexia. Dyslexia/ learning disability (LD) is the largest category of disability served in the Palm Beach schools and throughout Florida. 

Children with dyslexia have difficulty with reading and spelling.  Unfortunately, most Palm Beach Schools teachers and reading specialist have not been trained to identify and teach kids with dyslexia.  They may not know the most effective methods that children with dyslexia need in order to be successful readers and spellers.  If you think your child is dyslexic, get him or her evaluated as soon as possible so you can begin the most effective remediation program.  In addition to being a school psychologist, I’m a certified dyslexia testing specialist.  According to dyslexia expert Susan Barton, programs that don’t work well for children with dyslexia include: Hooked on Phonics, the Phonics Game, Reading Recovery, Accelerated Reader, Reading Recovery, and most commercial learning chains. 

Scientific, independent, replicated reading research supports the reading programs based on Orton-Gillingham sequence and methodology.  Dr. Sam Orton and Anna Gillingham developed a unique method and sequence to significantly improve the reading and spelling skills of children and adults with dyslexia during the 1930’s.  Orton-Gillingham programs are “best practices” when teaching reading to students with dyslexia.  An Orton Gillingham based reading system is simultaneously multisensory, systematic, and cumulative with direct and explicit instruction in phonics.  This type of program shows how reading and spelling are related and provide intense practice for a child with dyslexia. 

The Dyslexia Teaching Gold Standard

If you want what’s best for your child, one-on-one tutoring using Orton-Gillingham methodology is the gold standard for dyslexic reading instruction.  The benefits of this type of tutoring are supported by research.  Consider the evaluation and tutoring the best investment you can make for the future success of your child.  Their self-esteem will rise along with their academics.  For a list of tutors using Orton-Gillingham methods, call (561) 625 4125.

My Personal Experience with Dyslexia

My child used this type of teaching and overcame dyslexia so I know first hand how well this method works.  Furthermore, my wife is an Orton Gillingham tutor and has helped kids learn to read for over 10 years!  We understand children and how to help them become proficient readers.

Some folks might have tried the Orton Gillingham method and have not received the results they hoped.  When this happens I often ask four things.
First, was it the right match between the tutor and child.
Second, was the tutor ‘certified’ by the training program that they were using or highly experienced?
Third, did you stick with it for up to 36 months?
Fourth, did you tutor at least twice a week for about an hour per session? Usually if there was a problem it was in one of those areas.

Testing Process

I am a certified dyslexia testing specialist located in Jupiter, Florida (West Palm Beach area for anyone reading this out of town) and my associates and I can test your child for dyslexia or any other suspected learning or emotional problem.  Testing is a 4 to 4.5 hour process that is usually completed in one day (taking breaks every hour).  There is also a pre-meeting with you to discuss your initial concerns and review background information.  After testing we have a post meeting because we produce a written report with specific recommendations that we explain in understandable terms.  The entire process is usually not covered by insurance but I’ll give you a receipt for out of network reimbursement.

Call us so we can help you determine if your child has dyslexia or another learning disability and how to help him or her overcome it.  We can also help you find a dyslexia tutor or dyslexia school in the West Palm Beach area. Call today (561) 625 4125