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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

Four Reasons to Test Kids for Learning Problems

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Are you concerned about your child’s or grandchild’s learning? In my experiences of working with many families, my advice is to tell you to trust your instincts.  I work with parents from Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and other counties to test their kids.  One common theme I see is that a parent’s instinct is very accurate even if your child’s teacher is saying, “Wait and see.”  As a parent you know your child best and if your gut is telling you there is something going on with your child’s learning then investigate it with testing. You may have to sweet-talk your spouse to get them to agree but it’s worth the sugar.

These are four reasons why testing your child will help you.

Time. The earlier you start giving your child the correct support the better the outcome. We know from research that early intervention is a key factor in a child’s future success. As time passes, it’s harder for your child to catch up. I’ve worked with parents that tell me they wish they had completed the testing years ago because they could have saved themselves from so much struggling.

Self-esteem. Your child is smart and knows he or she is not learning as easily as their peers. Many kids are good at keeping a positive front while holding their secret fears inside. You may have heard your child make statements such as, “I’m dumb at this. Everyone else is smarter than me. I hate school.” As part of my evaluation I assess your child’s self-esteem.

Understanding. An evaluation sheds light on what’s going on within your child’s mind by assessing his or her neuropsychological processing systems. You may be calling your child lazy and unmotivated when it’s really a processing disorder that’s making learning so much harder. He may have to put in ten times the mental effort as his peers. Unless you have testing then you are just making assumptions that can hinder the situation more than help it.

Plan. You may need a specific plan to know what’s best to help your child. When it comes to your child’s learning you don’t want to take a hit-and-miss approach and spend time and money doing things that don’t work. My testing helps identify the best teaching approaches for helping your child flourish rather than flounder. By using the right teaching methods you’ll increase your child’s academic performance and self confidence.

There are many more reasons to test your child but these four reasons to test kids is a start.  I believe the testing investment you make to help your child will pay off and help you get things going on the right track.

Call if we can help you with your child.(561) 625-4125