Slow processing?

[IndigoBell]

After a year of fighting I have finally managed to get school to test DD for dyslexia. (Not that they disagreed she had dyslexia, they just didn't feel like testing her....)

Anyway, it said exactly what we knew already. That she can do all the parts of reading, ie knows her letters and can blend, she just can't read. And that she has problems with her memory, and slow processing.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to help slow processing?

I think an Occupational Therapist might be your best bet -although I am far from being an expert!

My dd has delayed processing (she has AS) and it was her OT who diagnosed this.
We were given various ways to help her -one way is the '6 second rule'. We only give her one simple instruction at a time and allow her 6 seconds to process the information before we repeat the same request (if necessary). There are a number of other strategies we have in place for her.

There are also aids that can be used (depending on the child's needs) and exercises, but I think they are pretty much individual to the child. It may be worth giving the local OT services a ring.

Best of luck.

Thanks Sibling, I'd never thought of an OT.

I was thinking maybe retained reflexes, but are going to do that with my son first. I think trying to do it with both of them at the same time might be too much for us

I was also thinking maybe something like the DORE programme?

Definately seems to me it needs to be her brain we work on, rather than more 'learn to read' programmes.

Contacting an OT is a good idea.

My dd did 'The Listening Programme', partly to help with her sensitivity to noise and partly for her delayed processing. It involves listening to set pieces of music for ten minutes, twice a day. It's very structured and carefully moderated by the OT, but might be useful?

Just a word to the wise -waiting lists here for OT are running at 9 months, so I would think about a referral asap.

I'll never be able to get a referral to an OT. I'll have to go private....

Listening programme is a good idea. Did it help with her delayed processing?

Hmm, I'm not sure, to be honest. We still struggle with it but I'm not sure how much of it is to do with her autism - she's in her own world a lot of the time and doesn't listen!

It's had a lot of good reports though and I know other people have had a lot of success with it.

I looked at the DORE programme.. and decided against it.. totally due to a sales rep visiting the house and talking payment plans.. they however may have changed this as we looked into it about 4 years ago.

I'm not sure what you can do to help processing speed.

but as a dyslexic myself ( and so are both my ds's) IME ( and it's different for everyone) is to be able to reg=cognise the shapes of the words.. blending is hard work as it's difficult to see the word still for long enough.. they tend to blur or jump about..
but drawing boxes around the words to show the shapes and learning shapes of words.. worked well for both me and my boys... and then it's just keep going at it.

if you can get your DD touch typing as soon as possable.. the BBC schools bit do a lovely little touch typing game.
she in theory should learn the patterns of words on the keyboard.

I am no expert at all.. I can only pass on what has helped me and my boys

( i still can't bloody blend and i'm 35!)

Thanks Arsenic.

Have you had yourself tested for Irlen syndrome? Because of the words moving around?

DD says that the words don't move around.... And she can blend......

I too am very sceptical of the DORE program - but that doesn't mean it won't work. I'm wondering how different it is to a retained reflexes program? Which I'll probably try before trying DORE. (Unless someone here tells me otherwise....)

If I can find evidence of a vision problem then I'd try BABO or Sound Learning Centre....

No was only tested for dyslexia many moons ago when university saw there was an issue when I handed in a draft of my disertation!

Tbh it doesn't bother me that much as it doesn't effect my work or employment ( self employed artist lol)

I have a slightly personal mission though to make Eire that children know that the can achieve.. Just sometimes you got to go a different way about it

Sure * ( doh..)

Okay just googled irlens.. Interesting.. Can yell yes to quite a lot of it tbh.. ( about 90%) .. But my spatial perseption is very good lol..

Ahh see you learn something new everyday!

SRA comes out tops as a really good intervention programme, better than Ruth Miskin even. Ask the school to invest in it.
Speed of processing can be due to an underlying language impairment so a SALT could help.
Visualisatin exercises, and thought gymnastics can also help-look at brain gym exercises as a pre reading warm up.
Good luck.

Hi Snowdrop.

Thanks for your advice.

She has been assessed by SALT and there is no underlying language impairment.

I am not looking for a reading intervention, but rather things that will address the underlying problem.

Have you googled "auditory processing disorder". My ds has dyslexia; he has slow processing and many signs of auditory processing disorder, he was referred to audiology and although he passed all standard hearing tests, they felt his problems were due to auditory processing problems. DS now has a special hearing aid that blocks out background noise and they provided the school with advice on how best to support him.

Not sure about Irlen's - LEA's usually have a visual impairment service that schools/LEAs can refer to for a screening assessment and advice.

Good luck

Thanks Dolfin.

She has also been assesed for auditory processing disorder and doesn't have that either.