DD has learnt to read!

[IndigoBell]

(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.

Can I be really cheeky and ask how much it cost?

I would be potentially interested in this for my chap but would also like to recommend it to a kid I teach who has terrible auditory processing dyslexia problems. He tries so hard and his reading is emerging now YIPEEE but he just doesn't 'hear' certain sounds. I would be quite interested in training to be a professional as well but I reckon that would cost me quite a bit!

Thanks.

FlyingMum - We went to the sound learning centre and it cost about £1200. But I found out on here that this place does it for about £300.

If you can afford it - def go for it! It helps with ASD, ADHD, Dyspraxia and Dyslexia.

The NHS OT prefers the longer 10 week listening programme. We have to apply to charities for the equipment funding , which is frustrating. My key reason for going along with this option is that she's willing to go into DS's new school once a fortnight to work with them and to monitor it.

My son's sound sensitivities cause massive behavioral problems so proper school recognition & TA training is necessary, especially as his statement managed to omit all reference. It was THE contributory factor as to why his first two schools failed with him. I also think it'll be helpful now the NHS mylti-disciplinary team have taken the issue on board, perhaps leading to an official report or diagnosis at some point that can be fed into future statement reviews? It's nice to be singing from the same hymn sheet.

I'm saving though for AIT at Xmas time in case the listening programme doesn't deliver the desired results ; ) or it takes too long to get the equipment for the NHS option.

IndigoBell that is so exciting, hope you cracked open a bottle of champagne, you are an inspiration to us all and so is your dd who clearly showed determination too. I am currently looking into AIT, behavioural optometry and pecams/cams. As I am sure most of his behavioural anger is due to an inclusive system that excludes him and he is currently coming out of class willy nilly because of noise issues and glare from white board, perhaps I will put councelling on hold and go for therapies. THere is a limit to what he/we can fit in all at once.

Can you tell me what retained reflexes is? and can you only get vision therapy in London? I live in SE.

SuperMum - My eldest DS (with a dx of Aspergers) did AIT a year ago. Prev to that he used to walk out of class 5 times a day - now he very rarely walks out of class. So, yes, I think AIT would be a very sensible starting point for you. Def more use than counselling.

here are a list of behavioural optometrists that do vision therapy.

A baby is born with all sorts of reflexes, like the sucking reflex and the grasping reflex. They are meant to disappear and be replaced with adult postural reflexes. If they don't, you can do OT type exercises to encourage that to happen.

Hemispheres and sound learning centre are 2 places that offer this treatment.

I highly recommend starting with AIT, (which only takes 10 days) and then doing retained reflex therapy (which takes about a year - although you will see results quicker than this).

I'm so cross. I guess I don't need to tell any of you how absolutely rubbish the professionals are....

I emailed the SpLD EP who DD has been under for a year, to tell him the good news.

He replied There is no convincing evidence that AIT helps reading. DD has been on Read, Write, Inc for the last 3 years. There must have just been a delay between her acquiring the skills and developing the habit of using them.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Honestly, anyone whose child is having problems learning to read (and there are threads like that most days on primary ed) - a dyslexia specialist is the last person who you can expect help from.

Synthetic Phonics is a good way to teach children to read. But while the dyslexia industry refuses to look past it, children like my DD will continue to be failed by 'the system'.

It is so heartbreakingly unfair to all those kids who weren't as lucky as mine.....

Hi IndigoBell thanks for advice earlier, I do share your frustration. My ds. had several epileptic episodes a week after having Botox to the arm and leg in November after a long period of stability. I was on the look out for it as last time he had Botox to both, exactly a week later he was admitted to hospital with severe seizures having not had epilepsy before.
The Botox kicks in after a week by the way. Is it coincidence? Is it cause and effect? My gut feeling was that there was a link and there is growing evidence on the internet to suggest there may be a link between increase of petit mal and Botox. When I mentioned this to both the Orthopaedic Consultant and the Neurologist, neither were interested. So much for listening to the mothers gut instinct. The truth is that all peer reviewed research starts off as a hypothesis, from observation. There is no peer reviewed research that proves that AIT works as far as I am aware. What matters is, is there a model by which it could work? Are you happy to try a procedure based on anecdote alone? Despite being a scientist, I think I am, because it may have not been proven to work by research, because a research study simply hasn't been done, because there isn't enough interest and there isn't enough money. With time that research based evidence may become available. I am desperate enough about my ds coming out of class because of sensory issues to give it a go I think, although haven't made final decision.
You have got to weigh up whether you can afford to pay for a treatment that hasn't been fully backed up and proven to work, by research as well.

They can't prove that AIT has not been responsible for your dd's sudden leap forwards any more than you can that it has, if the truth be known. What is more worrying is their closed-mindedness. Perhaps it's up to us parents to gather evidence for them and lobby some university to do the research. In the mean-time if your gut feeling is that it is the AIT, carry on bringing it to peoples attention and rejoice in the successes.