Dyslexia Remediation: Four Approaches That Don't Work

Updated November 2008

Larry Silver, M.D., is a respected source for information on learning disabilities.  I highly recommend his book, The Misunderstood Child, for all parents.

In this 2002 article, Silver considers four  controversial approaches to treatment of dyslexia:

• Patterning ("Doman and Delacato")-- after reviewing all of the relevant literature, the conclusion was that "the patterning treatment offers no special merit, that the claims of its advocates are unproven, and that the demands on families are so great that in some cases there may be harm in its use."
• Cerebellar - Vestibular Dysfunction  (Harold Levinson's treatment) There is no current evidence supporting the theory of vestibular dysfunction nor supporting the proposed treatment approaches. Yet, the primary proponent of this treatment for learning disabilities remains extremely busy evaluating and treating these children.
• Applied Kinesiology ( Dr. Ferreri and Dr. Richard Wainwright, Breakthrough for Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities ).  The person with learning disabilities is assumed to have "cranial faults",  "cloacal reflexes", and "ocular lock".   The proposed theory and interventions are not based on any known research. Some of the views are based on anatomic and functional concepts not held by the majority of anatomists. There is no research on outcome. A professional organization of chiropractors has stated a disclaimer to this approach. Parents should be encouraged not to consider using it strongly discouraged from spending any money on applied kinesiology.
• EEG Biofeedback Much, if not most of the literature on EEG Biofeedback as a treatment for learning disabilities is found in flyers and other literature provided by Dr. Siegfried Othrner Othmer Susan Othrner Othmer, and others. The use of EEG Biofeedback to treat learning disabilities has not, to date, been shown to be effective nor has the theory behind the treatment been found to be correct.

What should parents of poor readers do?  Don't waste time on twaddle such as that discussed above. Here's what works:  multisensory, methodical  instruction in phonemic awareness, grapheme-phoneme correspondence, and further training in the structure of the English language.

If there isn't a Masonic Children's Learning Center near you,  an independent  Orton-Gillingham-based remedial program (see list below),  or you can't find other help, go to Susan Barton's website and learn to tutor your child.

A list of  good solid programs follows.

• Orton-Gillingham    The pure, unchanged, original method.
• Barton Reading & Spelling System Designed for one-on-one tutoring of children, teenagers and adults by parents, volunteer tutors, resource or reading specialists, and professional tutors. This simplified Orton-Gillingham approach is easy to learn. Tutor training is provided on videotape, along with fully scripted lesson plans.
• Slingerland       Designed for classroom settings of young children in the first, second, and third grades.
• Herman Method    Recently acquired by Lexia.  The Herman Method can be used by both parents and teachers.
  
• MTA (Multi-sensory Teaching Approach) as developed by Margaret Taylor Smith.
  
• Alphabetic Phonics ;Designed for one-on-one tutoring of children.  This is the method developed at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.
• Wilson Reading System       Initially designed for one-on-one tutoring of adults, their new version can be used with children in third grade or higher.
• Project Read   is  designed to  be delivered in the regular classroom or by special education, chapter one, and reading teachers who work with children or adolescents  with language learning problems.
  
• Recipe for Reading    This is a book with associated workbooks that teachers and parents may use to help a child slow to read progress.   It is the least complete of all the systems listed here.
• Preventing Academic Failure (PAF)   "a program for teaching reading, spelling, and handwriting in grades K-3. It has been proven successful in over 25 years of use in public and private schools. Thousands of children, many with learning disabilities, have learned to read thanks to PAF."
• Lindamood Instruction in Phonemic Segmentation (LiPS)

There's also the Institute for Multi-Sensory Teaching.

Comments

[Susan Junghans]

You are so wrong regarding biofeedback !!!

Go to www.humboldt.edu for more information

My daughter went to Prentice school for Dyslexia and taught using a multi-sensory approach which greatly helped her, but it's not enough. You need to get to the root cause of the problem - and that's the function of the brain.

Doctor's don't know everything - that's for sure.

My daughter is undergong biofeedback, and let you know in another 6 months how she has improved in her IQ, and reading IQ.

Do a little research before making these statements.

Susan

[Tooth Grinding]

What is the theory behind the EEG Biofeedback approach that Othrner uses which you say is not correct?

[Account Deleted]

Thanks for the nice article. Children who have experienced difficulties with reading and language can also do good, if we will help them. There are many schools which are working in towards this. One of them is Center School. Center School has gained distinction among private schools in PA by offering a curriculum that fosters each child’s maximum development and potential. For more information you can check http://www.centerschoolpa.org/