FFT as intervention for dyslexia ? Any views - please help!

[neednewname]

hello all,
I am in need of some quick advice from you knowledgable types! I am afraid I am going to be deliberately vague, and have name changed, as I am currently locked in battle with LEA and school ( and the world it feels sometimes LOL!) and need to not to give anything away!
So long story short...DC aged 7. Various special needs including dyslexia. SO far has been receiving FFT (Fischer Family Trust) intervention between 2 and 4 times a week. This is what continues to be recommended by the so called "expert" that assesses her.....but there seems to be a lack of progress (understatement LOL)
I need to do more research on FFT .... but would be very interested if anyone has any views on FFT as intervention for dyslexia - how does it rate???? are there better alternatives I should be pushing for? (if it helps I suspect a lot of the route of dc difficulties is auditory processing problems...but we are also pursuing this....)
Anyone ogt any links to research in support of FFT as intervention or against or in favour of alternative intervention.
Any help would be hugely appreciated as I am almost at my wits end with all of this!!

neednewname

From what i can see from their web site Fischer Family Trust, they have not got a clue about dyslexia. Just a company with very good marketing.

If your DD has Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) as the cause of their dyslexic symptom, then FFT have no published data that they have the slightest idea of how to help. The whole FFT approach is based on phonics, which for any child who has APD is not a cognitive option. And since APD is one of the main underlying causes of the dyslexic symptom, FFT are in no position to be able to provide any form of intervention.

How any LEA can suggest this as an intervention of dyslexia is highly questionable, and really questions the qualifications of those who work for the LEA and their lack of knowledge about the underlying cognitive causes dyslexia.
Your "So Called Expert" would seem to have a product to sell, rather than being able to provide any form of realistic support to match your DDs needs

I am no fan of the Bristish Dyslexia Association (BDA) or Dyslexia Action, but even they could provide advice than this.

neednewname

If desperate rather than wade through my usual dyslexia research paper collection links you could have a look at waht i call my Key References which includes what I consider to be the key research papers many of which are dyslexia related.
And help for APD related issues have a look at
Ideas to be Considered Prior to Creating an IEP for an APD you could alos have a look at the UK Medical Research Councils APD web pages and pamphlets

thanks dolfrog. I have said all along that Dc cant learn by phonics, but for 3 years they have put her in phonics group after phonics group etc...
We are pursuing diagnosis/assessment for APD...but as you know its a long road!DC is also onASD spectrum ( so has lots of sensory stuff) and I am guessing that it is the APD/ASD/sensory issues that are at the route of the problem....
BUT dc has just been assessed again by their Learning Advisory teacher - who continues to say "needs on-going FFT" which seems to be what all school in this LEA recomend and use for all kids with "dyslexia"
TBH I am getting SO wound up by it all....I can hardly eat or sleep and do nothing but try and battle with people whilst watching DC getting more and more behind and upset and frustrated (although of course they never "see" this at school, and think dc is perfectly happy and coping....arrrrrggggghhh)
will go and look at some of your many useful links...thanks

Wow this sounds so familiar my DD has also been diagnosed with dyslexia, and has other problems ?dyscalcula and ?dyspraxia, she is not bad enough to be statemented (although her spelling is in bottom 5%) and so goes the story as with so many children struggling!! I have been fighting the LEA and have been giving her private tuition but once a week on a week end just doesn't sink in, she seems to have forgotten everything the moment she walks out of the door!!! The school does do this FFT but not sure she is making any headway!! I have bought the Nessy Learning programme which is brilliant and she loves it, but the school doesn't recognize this as a learning tool!! I am going up against the governors in the next couple of weeks so I can take her out of school in school time to have private tuition, because school just aren't doing what they should be and mt DD is getting so frustrated and having huge rages, and getting really down about everything, even the other night was talking about self harming, (I have been to the doctor), I have been in tears trying to sort it all out, but like your DD school just sees a perfectly well behaved little girl who they think is a 'treasure'.
I am so glad (well not really because it is horrible) that someone is going through the same thing.

Legally you're allowed to take your child out of school for extra tuition, so it shouldn't be a huge battle at all.

Hi, our 10 year old son has just been diagnosed with Dyslexia and that where it ends, the school are doing nothing different before the dx despite various recommendations from the EP and SLT etc let alone FFT. When we have yet another meeting we are told they are helping him etc etc but when you ask my son he tells a very different story. Our son also forgets everything the minute he walks out of the door. His only additonal help ie 2 x 10 mins 1:1 each week seem to have stopped now becuase the T.A is either away ill or doing other duties as they have made redundancies by letting 3 x T.A's go thus reducing the additional time my son was getting. Its a complete joke to be honest, we are going for statement at the moment (decission 23/11/2011) but been told we won't get it. I have now completely given up on his primary school as they tell you what you want to hear but never back it up and I have lost the fight with this school as I am so angry and wound up I need to step back for a bit, so now await his transition to secondary where it will all begin again.

Neednewname, like you we are also pursuing APD took us 9 months to get an appointment at GOSH which is this Saturday (however the consultant can't make it, so only having the tests and the consultation will have to wait for another appointment :0(. ), so hopefully this will help answer a few questions, however if he does get diagnosed with APD then what no one recognisies it or really know nothing about it. I know his school won't do anything as they don't now with a dx of dyslexia and speech disorder.

Sorry rant over.