What are the 5 Important Steps to Navigating Dyslexia?

Navigating and then overcoming the challenges that many individuals with dyslexia experience is a process that requires both time and patience. What's more, a vital approach that tames the turbulence is revealing and addressing inherent weaknesses while embracing the many gifts that come with this diagnosis.

                      You can also see the free dyslexia screener at Goodsensorylearning.com

1. Thorough Screening and Assessment: The first step is to complete a screener and, if needed, pursue a comprehensive psycho-educational assessment.  This will help to uncover the specific areas of difficulty that need to be addressed and it will also define each student's "genius" qualities that can be fully realized and utilized.
2. In-Depth Understanding: The second step is to have a comprehensive understanding of the unique strengths and weaknesses of each learner. By tapping into a student's strengths they can learn to develop compensatory learning strategies. With guidance and a scaffolding approach, students with dyslexia can learn to work around difficulties by using their talents.  For instance, a student may struggle with writing due to spelling and  graphomotor weaknesses. However, if this student also possesses excellent expressive language skills, they could use speech recognition software to sidestep their difficulties. On the other hand, by remediating areas of challenge, students can often improve cognition and develop new neural pathways for learning. For example, by repeatedly exercising a specific area of cognition, a student's capabilities can improve over time.

   

3. Multisensory Lessons: The third step is to find the needed multisensory instructors, multisensory methods, and therapist/coach. Educational therapists and learning specialists are usually the best professionals to assist with this form of intervention as many can provide all of these services. You can learn more about these professionals by reading my blog post: Tutor, Learning Specialist, and Educational Therapist: What's the Difference?  If you want to do it yourself, you can.  Many parents decide to take on these roles, and with the right tools and guidance, this can be an excellent choice.  To learn more about this option, click here: Home Schooling Dyslexia.
4. Cognitive Remediation: The fourth step is to pursue cognitive remedial therapy. Cognitive remedial therapy is an approach that uses focused activities or exercises that improve core neurocognitive abilities such as attention, working memory, mental flexibility, planning, processing speed as well as visual, auditory, sequential, and simultaneous processing. If you would like to learn more about these tools you can click here to see a large array of options and even get some free samples.
5. Comprehensive Support: The fifth step is to offer cognitive, emotional, and physical support so that those with dyslexia can reach their true potential.  Resilience and a positive, mindful attitude can be achieved for struggling learners as long as they have a strong, supportive environment that addresses the mind, body, and spirit. 

Cheers, Dr. Erica Warren

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator, and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning. She is also the director of Learning to Learn and Learning Specialist Courses.

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