Learning to read - why is is so difficult for ds?

[tacal]

Hello,

I am feeling a bit down about ds and his reading. He is 5 and has dx of hfa.

He finds reading difficult. He does not want to read books. I think the school are giving him books that are too difficult for him which isn't helping. But he doesn't want to read any books.

I am not sure what the best way of helping him is. I have bought toe by toe and am going to do that with him.

Can anyone explain to me why a dc with an autism diagnosis may find reading difficult? Is it that he could have dyslexia? Could it be to do with colour and size of writing in the book? Is it connected to his speech difficulties? I have noticed he gets sounds confused. Found out today at homework club he thinks train starts with a ch sound. and tree starts with a ch sound. I had no idea he thought that But I do know he always says cress instead of press, and I am failing miserably in getting him to say press.

What should I be doing for ds? And should his school be doing more? Is having him in a reading group that seems too advanced the best thing? I don't think so but school say he is in the right reading group.

Advice will be very much appreciated.

thank you

Throwing another hat into the ring....

He's 5 years old. Lots of year 1 boys still don't 'click' with reading just because they aren't ready to be reading.

Does he like being read to?
Does he have any interests in factual subjects that might have lists that he could read/write?
Does he like to cook?

You might find that it is as simple as the stories being unmotivating, so he isn't interested in knowing what the words say.

Obviously, that won't change the articulation issues, but don't give up hope! DD1 is 8 and just starting to grasp phonics. It's quite awesome to see her efforts.

Hi Lougle - you could be right and it is a case of him not being ready. Reading lists about his special interests is a good suggestion. I will try that.
The main problem is that he is refusing to read anything with me. He says reading is too hard. He will read individual words. But if it is a sentence or group of words he is saying it is too hard and not even trying.
thank you for your suggestions.

2 suggestions.

1. Check out 'audio integration therapy' (problem 'hearing'the sounds)

1. Vision issues. Often overlooked by opticians. See www.engagingeyes.co.uk. Worked wonders for DS.

thank you GreenGold, I will have a look at these now. Ds definitely has a problem hearing the sounds that people are saying. I am not sure about vision problems but am keen to investigate it even if it just rules it out.

Hi Tacal.

My dd has social communication disorder, sensory issues and gross/fine motor problems. Now she is in reception it is clear that she is also struggling with her learning, especially reading. She is not too bad recognising individual words/letters but looking at sentences seems almost impossible for her.

The assessment was about 200 so not cheap and the vision therapy is 80 a session. She just had her first appointment - and we have been given daily exercises including some massage (she grinds her teeth badly).

The optomotrist says we need to do it for 6 months to see a difference. Who knows whether it will work but I just want to help her as much as possible whilst we go through the statementing process. At the moment at school she is in a phonics/reading intervention group but it doesnt seem to be making much of a difference!

Hi mumsuz thank you for your reply. It sounds like your dd has similar problems with reading to my ds. I don't understand why my ds' school are not interested in any intervention for him.

I hope the exercises help your dd. I have made an appointment for ds with Ian Jordan who specialises in visual problems people with autism have. He is not a behavioural optometrist, I will have to travel quite far to find one so am trying to find out where is best to go.

Ds should see an ot in June.

thanks again for the info.

best wishes

thank you poltergoose the information is very useful.

Have you heard of Lindamood Bell (LiPS program) ... Some SALTS are trained in this

Your child certainly needs his eyes and hearing checked ... Have you heard of an auditory listening therapy? (AIT in the UK, Tomatis in the US) -

Precision teaching and Direct instruction works well for ASD children. And also for my severely dyslexic child (he's had years of multisensory dyslexia tutoring yet progress was very slow; now with this method of teaching, it is phenomenal). He has severe dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and ASD. He was recently assessed by an Optometric Physician and he has exophoria, convergence insufficiency, binocular dysfunction and saccadic dysfunction.

Your child will learn to read!!

Much strength coming your way, it is very very hard to see your child struggle x

Hi nostoppingme thank you so much for sharing this information with me.

I have not heard of LiPS program. I will find out about this and the auditory listening therapy.

My ds is responding quite well to Toe by Toe at the moment but I am looking at other things and deciding what to do for the best. He has eye examinations booked and had his hearing checked last year.

How has getting the diagnosis of exophoria, convergence insufficiency and binocular dysfunction and saccadic dysfunction helped your dc? Can these things be corrected? Or is it that you now understand what the problems are with learning to read so you can teach in a different way? I dont know what they are so I am away to google.

I am glad your dc is making good progress with the new teaching method. It sounds like you have remained strong and very focussed on helping your dc.

Best wishes

Hi Tacal,

He'll be starting vision therapy (1 year duration) to address his visual deficits. This is non related to his dyslexia.

Your son is 5, however, the sooner you get him checked out the better. I presume he has been to preschool and nursery before starting reception so he has been exposed to learning (whether playbased or more intense with proper alphabet teaching etc) so for him to complain about reading is not 'normal' ...

'Warning signs of Dyslexia: If a child has 3 or more of the following warning signs, encourage that child's parents and teachers to learn more about dyslexia' - this is by a Dyslexia expert

In Preschool

• delayed speech
• mixing up sounds and syllables in long words
• chronic ear infections
• can't create words that rhyme
• trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet
• severe reaction to childhood illnesses
• constant confusion of left versus right (There is more but just to give you an idea)

In Primary School

• dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read)
• terrible spelling
• often can't remember sight words (they, were, does) or homonyms (their, they're, and there)
• when speaking, difficulty finding the correct word (There is more but again to give you an idea)

Dyslexia is highly complex. It isn't a vision problem (they don't see backward); a dyslexic can't read by sounding out, even phonetic words. Most people with dyslexia (85%) are ready for Orton-Gillingham (multisensory) method of learning. For the 15% who have auditory difficulty, OG does not work (yet) - they need help from Speech and Language therapists who are highly trained and experienced in the LiPS program from Lindamood Bell and can then progress to the OG method.

My message is not to scare you in any way. It is to inform you and to empower you. I was in your situation 5 years ago and how I could have used help. I made it my silent mission to help any parent who is reaching out. I can't sit back and watch or in this instance read and not say anything. I only discovered this forum when I was about to receive the final statement for my son!

Keep an eye out for dyspraxia and dysgraphia too. And if I were you, I'd be requesting a formal assessment for a Statement (apply before September 2014).

Always follow your gut instinct. Always.

All the best!

thank you no stopping for taking the time to post all this info for me.

ds does have some warning signs but I spoke to school yesterday and they say I should no be worrying he is doing well in class. What I don't understand is that they assure me he is reading books at school. I just don't believe that. School say it is normal for a dc to be different at home and refuse to read because they are tired. But I know my ds and he can not read books without a huge struggle. I asked him if he reads books out loud at school to the teacher and he said no. He said they only get books if they have finished doing something and then they sit and read them quietly to themselves.

I am a bit confused at the moment. His doctor said it is far too early to think about dyslexia. I am sure he has dyspraxia and once again school were not interested in discussing signs of dyspraxia. They say he is managing fine except his writing.

I will get his vision tested, see the o/t in June, do more reading practise and see where to go from there.

you have been very helpful, thank you!

Is the doctor a dyslexia expert? Dyslexia signs and symptoms can be detected in children at a very young age (and certainly when they are in nursery) and testing can be done at age 4. This is not coming from me but from an internationally acclaimed dyslexia expert.

In my experience, the more complex a child; the more resistance from school and insisting everything is fine (as they don't know what to do with this type of child). Especially when the child is very obedient, quiet and no bother to the teachers at school.

Having said that, there is always that one talented and passionate teacher who will speak out. It happened to us and changed the course of my child's life. Forever grateful to this teacher.

All the best moving forward; keep following your instincts :-)