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Dyslexia & Dyslexia Testing Explained

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Contrary to public perception dyslexia is not a visual processing disorder but it is an auditory professing disorder.  Yes, children with dyslexia reverse letters and numbers but it’s not because they see them differently. People with dyslexia reverse because they are confused with the code of language as our letters and numbers are a series of curved and straight lines.  For young children with dyslexia these lines do not hold much meaning so they are difficult to remember.

Dyslexia Explained

In order to learn to read children must crack the code of our only 26 letters but the approximately 44 sounds they make. A child’s confusion comes in learning which letter combinations make which sounds.  Here’s an example. A child with dyslexia may see the letters ild as in the word child but say illed as in billed or see tion as in the word action but say ty-on.  Other children with dyslexia may hear the sound for the letter f but when spelling write the letters th or they hear the sound for j and write the letters ch. This sound and letter confusing creates frustration and makes learning to read very hard work.

Most traditional methods for teaching children to read don’t teach in a manner that is best for teaching children with dyslexia.  Kids with dyslexia require a specialized reading curriculum that is multi sensory, systematic, explicit, and controlled to give ample repetition and practice for a child to learn until mastery.  The two primary methods used in our area are the Lindamood Bell or Orton Gillingham curricula. These are evidence based which means independent researchers have studied them and found they are effective for producing positive results. That research is better than the just the reading publisher promoting their own results.

Dyslexia Testing

Surprisingly, public schools don’t test for dyslexia. We offer dyslexia testing starting at age 5.5 through young adult.  Dyslexia testing identifies why your child struggles to read and the best reading curriculum to use to help. Ten different subtests are used for dyslexia testing.  Most kids find the process enjoyable and it feels like school to them. Breaks are taken every 45 minutes or so. Parents receive a written report with specific recommendations.

Too many parents take a wait and hope it gets better approach and lose valuable time to significantly help their child. The younger a child is identified and given special instruction the quicker they can get to grade level. Even college students with dyslexia are eligible for accommodations such as extra time on testing, copies of notes and distraction reduced testing. An excellent book to learn more is Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz.

Contact us if you have concerns about dyslexia in your child. (561) 625-4125

Does Dyslexia Font Improve Reading?

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Dyslexia is a language processing reading disability so people with dyslexia have difficulty understanding the letter to sound relationship.  This is known as phonological processing and it’s documented in research that weak phonological processing is a primary problem in dyslexics.  If your child has a weakness in phonological processing they are confused when they see letter combinations and try to pronounce them. Thus, if you tell your child to, “Sound it out,” they often try but can’t. He might look at the first letters and then guess so the word strain may be read as either ‘stain, straw, or strong.’ In children with dyslexia this confusion also creates spelling difficulty.

Dyslexia Font

The media has given attention to dyslexia fonts and their potential to improve a child’s reading. One theory to explain reading difficulty relates to the font or the typographical characteristics of text. When you consider the books young children use to read, they have a larger font size than books for more advanced readers.  This leads some to conclude that font affects the reading decoding process. On the surface this makes sense but reading research does not support improvements when a dyslexia font is used.

Dr. Sanne Kuster and colleagues conducted a research experiment using the Dyslexie font and found 170 children with dyslexia did not read faster or more accurate using the Dyslexie font as compared to the Arial font. In a second experiment children had to read word lists in Dyslexie, Arial, and Times New Roman.  Words written in the Dyslexie font were not read faster or more accurately. The font the children preferred reading in was the Arial and Times New Roman. The researchers concluded the Dyslexie font did not help or hider the reading of a child with dyslexia. Thus, the takeaway from this research study is that if your child believes the font helps him or her then allow them to use it. It may be a matter of preference.

What Works?

What really makes a substantial difference is one-to-one specialized reading instruction using a direct and systematic multisensory program. This helps children with dyslexia. Call if you need reading help or suspect your child may have dyslexia. We provide dyslexia testing and have a list of tutors who specialized in teaching children with dyslexia.

Teach a Dyslexic Child to Read

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Dyslexia is a type of learning disability that affects up to 20% of school age children. Your child may have undiagnosed dyslexia if he or she does not enjoy reading. A smart dyslexic child can compensate and get by but still struggle in silence. These children may not reach their potential. In one day we can test your child to determine if he or she has dyslexia and also identify the best way to teach your child to read. We pinpoint the areas where your child’s problem occurs. Then you may choose to teach your child or hire a specialized reading tutor. When you invest time, energy, and effort either way can be effective.

Teaching children with dyslexia to read is not rocket science. There are effective and straightforward approaches that really work. The oldest, and one of the most effective, approach is based on Orton-Gillingham multisensory reading instruction. Your child may benefit from this teaching if she is weak in reading and everyday spelling. If you want to learn more about this approach visit BrightSolutions.US.

If we test your child and identify that it’s dyslexia, you can teach your child using the Orton-Gillingham influenced Barton Reading and Spelling System. If your child works better with someone else then we have a list of professional tutors that specialize in teaching children with dyslexia. Some parents find online tutoring is both convenient and affordable and use the website DyslexiaConnect.com.  We can help guide you to the right resources.

The critical time between first and fourth grade is when you must help your child become a good reader and overcome dyslexia. The younger your child is when you get dyslexia identified, the better the long term outcome. Call us to help you help your child. You can teach a dyslexic child to read well.

Learning Disability Testing and Treatment in West Palm Beach Florida‏

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Learning disability testing and treatment is available in West Palm Beach Florida‏ to help children with dyslexia, reading disorders, dysgraphia (writing learning disability) and memory difficulties.   Jim Forgan, Ph.D. and associates offers learning disability testing and treatment using a school neuropsychological approach to testing and multi sensory reading instruction using Orton-Gillingham based reading programs.  Dr. Forgan and his associates also use the Lindamood-Bell LiPs program to help children learn to read that have auditory discrimination issues.  These children often do not discriminate sounds such as the TH and F sounds and this interferes with reading. Children with learning disabilities requires specialized instruction to help them learn and, unfortunately, most public schools are not providing enough specialized reading instruction for children with learning disabilities but instead use inclusion.

Learning disability testing in West Palm Beach Florida‏

Learning disability testing is done with Dr. Jim Forgan who is a private practice school psychologist and specializes in learning disorders and testing for dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and other issues. Dr. Forgan uses a multi step approach to determining if a child has a learning disability. The first step is to meet with the parents to hear their most important concerns and determine the main questions they want to get answer to the evaluation process. The next step is for the child to come in and begin the testing process which is typically done two, two hour sessions. The next step is for Dr. Forgan to talk with your child’s teacher on the telephone about what the teacher observes in the classroom. Of course, this is done only if parents give permission to contact the teacher. This helps Dr. Forgan look at the big picture of what parents see, what the teacher sees, all the child’s work, and Dr. Forgan’s clinical judgment. He then synthesizes the information to answer the parents most important questions and he writes a written report with specific recommendations. The next step is for parents to come back in without their child and they sit down with Dr. Forgan to go over the results and determine the best course of action as well as review Dr. Forgan’s specific recommendations.

If learning to read was a primary parental concern, Dr. Forgan identifies the best reading curriculum to help the child learn to read in the most efficient and effective way. This saves parents time and money because they don’t go doing a hit and miss approach but rather have a specific approach which, in the long run, is more effective.

Learning disability treatment in Jupiter Florida‏

Dr. Forgan and his team provides support to parents in their Jupiter office which is conveniently located close to I-95.  Parents often ask if learning disability testing is covered by insurance but Dr. Forgan is not on any insurance plans and most insurance companies will say that learning disability testing is educational and not medical so they don’t cover it.  Learning disability testing is more affordable than you may think so use the contact form above or call Dr. Forgan’s office for specific costs.  One-to-one specialized learning disability tutoring is provided at an hourly rate of $70/hr and is the best way to make fast progress.

Dyslexia Testing in Jupiter- Palm Beach

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Are you searching for a certified dyslexia testing specialist to test your child?  You’ve found the right source as Dr. Jim Forgan is a certified dyslexia testing specialist and licensed school psychologist.  This means his testing is accepted by all Florida public and private schools, colleges, and universities.

Dyslexia is a language disorder that is neurological in origin and often hereditary.  According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 15-20% of school age children have dyslexia.  This means in a class of 25 children as many as 5 children could have dyslexia.  It is the number one type of learning disability served in public schools.  Children with dyslexia have difficulty with reading and spelling.  Unfortunately, most teachers and reading specialist have not been trained in 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.  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.

What Works for Teaching Kids With Dyslexia?

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.

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 local tutors using Orton-Gillingham methods, call me.

I am a certified dyslexia testing specialist located in Jupiter, Florida (West Palm Beach area for anyone reading this out of town) and I can test your child for dyslexia.  Dyslexia testing is a four hour process that is completed in two, two hour sessions. It can be done in one day. Use my contact form or call me so I can help you determine if your child has dyslexia and how to help him or her overcome it.  I can also help you find a dyslexia tutor or dyslexia school in the West Palm Beach area.