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Original poster

DD has learnt to read!

32 replies

IndigoBell · 26/04/2011 10:41

(I posted this on Primary Ed - but as I have had lots of threads on this here too, and not all of you read Primary Ed, I am reposting here :) )

Many of you know DDs story. She was totally unable to learn to read or write, despite intensive SP teaching, and huge amounts of interventions and 1:1. She was unable to learn either whole words or through synthetic phonics.

She started Y3 working at a level 1C and still being sent home with red band (level 1) books.

8 weeks ago (last half term) she did Auditory Integration Training.

This cured her auditory discrimination problems, auditory processing delay, and hypersensitive hearing.

Since then we have been doing 10 mins a night reading - working our way through a synthetic phonics program. Last night we finished the program - and she was able to pick up (an easy) Jaquie Wilson book and read it!!!!!!!!!!!!

The NHS Audiologist said there was nothing wrong with her hearing. (Despite it being clear on an audiogram that she had hypersensitive hearing)

The SpLD EP said dyslexia is caused by auditory problems - but all he recommended was a reading pen and dictation software (after stating that school were doing all they could to teach her to read)

To anyone else who thinks their DC has 'dyslexia' - don't give up, don't believe it can't be cured, def don't believe the 'experts' - keep trying everything till you find out what helps your DC.

OP posts:
auntevil · 26/04/2011 10:52

Its so good to hear positive stories. My DH thinks i'm a bit of a crank reading up on therapies, treatments, diet changes etc, but the proof of the pudding is in your post! A huge well done to baby bell Smile

bochead · 26/04/2011 11:04

Wow!

Sitting here filling in an application for the equipment to do the listening programme via an NHS OT (she felt ds wa too severe for the 10 day AIT programme). It'll take 10 weeks and require lots of school comittment.

The NHS audiologist couldn't complete DS's last hearing test as he freaked. He's end of year 2 and level 1c. I do get that all our kids are different but it's so nice to hear of a sucess story

You've given me hope ; )

p.s (Be grateful she's too young for Twilght lol!)

moosemama · 26/04/2011 11:13

Posted on your other thread - fantastic news and well done to both of you for sticking with it. Smile

TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 26/04/2011 11:20

great news, well done to you both Smile

StarlightMcKenzie · 26/04/2011 11:23

Oh brilliant. Well done to your DD, but also well done to you for persisting.

Original poster
IndigoBell · 26/04/2011 11:25

bochead she felt ds wa too severe for the 10 day AIT programme - this doesn't sound at all right to me - unless she means that they wouldn't be able to complete the initial audiogram?????? ( Obviously Sound Learning Centre is very experienced at getting audiograms from ASD kids)

AIT is far better than the listening programme (from what I can tell, and from following these boards) - but might be a good starting point for you.

I think it's more likely that your OT is only able to supply the Listening Program, and isn't able to supply or fund AIT.......

OP posts:
TotalChaos · 26/04/2011 12:23

marvellous news, so glad the AIT has worked so well for her.

tryingtokeepintune · 26/04/2011 13:17

Lovely to hear your news.

We just started on the Johansen Sound Therapy - hope we get good results too.

Minx179 · 26/04/2011 15:45

Well done to you and your DS, for your persistence and perseverance, you should be really proud of yourselves Smile.

It will be interesting to see the schools response.

Minx179 · 26/04/2011 15:46

Or even hear of the schools response

rebl · 26/04/2011 16:31

This is brilliant news Indigo. Well done for working so hard with her and fighting her corner and believing in her Smile.

I'm beaming from ear to ear for you Grin.

EllenJane1 · 26/04/2011 16:40

Lovely, positive news, Indigo. How fantastic for your DD.

Ineedalife · 26/04/2011 17:14

Wow indigo.. that is great news, well done to your DdGrin.

Becaroooo · 26/04/2011 18:02

indigo I simply cant tell you how thrilled I am for you Grin Well done dd and well done you xxxx

trying We may be starting the johansen therapy soon...how are you finding it?

Sigh...wish we could do AIT....

mumgoingcrazy · 26/04/2011 19:51

Wow, so pleased for you. It makes all the hard work and effort worth it in the end. Well done for never giving up!

Eveiebaby · 26/04/2011 21:18

Smile Smile

tryingtokeepintune · 27/04/2011 00:52

Becaroo - we are only a week into it. First time ds found it difficult to sit through the whole 10 mins without any interruption but then we now get him keeping quiet through the whole thing - maybe because he knows how long it is?

I think ds seems to be more communicative and now tries to interrupt the conversation to add his bit in. This is something new. However, we are also trying to encourage him to talk more, using other techniques etc. so don't know how much of this is due to the therapy.

Why are you using johansen when you wish you could do AIT?

Becaroooo · 27/04/2011 07:25

We havent started Johansen yet....ds1 was supposed to have a hearing test at INPP last week but their equipment was broken Hmm so we have to wait for another 6 weeks and I know that the Johansen therapy is what they use.

I would like to do AIT as its only 10 days rather than the 9 months of the Johansen programme and seems to have great results, but its very costly and we dont live anywhere near london, however I have been told that you can do it long distance now so will check that out.

Hope your ds continues to improve x

TheTimeTravellersWife · 27/04/2011 21:02

That's great news! Fantastic! You must be so proud!

Really inspires me to keep believing that DD WILL learn to read eventually. She is in YR3, P levels for all subjects, severe dyslexia and ASD, but I know that she is a bright little girl!
Do you have any info on the Listening Programme?

Original poster
IndigoBell · 27/04/2011 21:08

No I don't know anything much about the listening programme. There's a whole bunch of therapies based on work by Tomatis. But the only one I have used is AIT.

I know AIT starts with an audiogram of your DD and then creates the music you listen to based on the audiogram. Which is why it gets such stunning results. It also only has to be done once for 10 days.

AFAIK none of the other programs take an audiogram and personalise the music especially for your kid.

So basically, I can only recommend AIT and think all of the other listening therapies don't sound quite as good :)

OP posts:
blueShark · 27/04/2011 22:12

brilliant news Indigo!
DS did the listening programme last year and although it made some difference it was nothing compared by the AIT however I am not sure about needing to be done just once for 10 days. DS certainly speaks in longer sentences and follows longer instructions/directions.

I know the results can be seen within the 9 months after the therapy however DS still misses ends of the words and mispronounces lots of words meaning he is great candidate to get it repeated and a professional that recently assessed him first pointed out the auditory processing as his biggest issue and recommended Johansen so I am still trying to figure out whether to do another AIT which yes its just 10 days or the gentler version of Johansen for 18 months but just 10-15 mins daily.

TheTimeTravellersWife · 27/04/2011 22:13

Thanks. Will have a "Google" so that I can show the info to the specialists that work with DD.

Original poster
IndigoBell · 28/04/2011 10:44

TimeTravellersWife - as well as AIT we also did Vision Therapy with DD, started her on Omega Fish Oil, and will be doing retained reflexes therapy with her in the summer.

You may need to try all of those things to improve her dyslexia....

(Depending on what is the cause of her reading difficulties. Dyslexia is not a cause, it's a label for some symptoms....)

OP posts:
2Siobhan · 28/04/2011 11:06

Thats great news! I have recently been looking into ait and great to hear positive stories.

whatreally · 28/04/2011 20:27

We did listening prog thr NHS OT. Results were much like the OP. DD couldn't read going into YR3 but listening prog was FANTASTIC. Good luck to anyone about to try it. It might not suit everyone but for us it was great x