Phonographix or lips program

The difference is basically in the level of intensity- with LIPS being the more intense. They both teach the sound symbol correspondances that are essential to being able to decode. PG is relatively new as a program and so has less research but some very strong supporters who use it very successfully. LIPS has been around for years and has tons of research behind it. It originated as a speech and language program for auditory discrimination and uses where sounds are made in the mouth and how the lips and tongue are positioned as part of the cuing system. PG teaches sound pitcutres. Recommendations for a particular program are generally made - hopefully- on a students needs as a learner- the more intense the need and the greater the complications in learning- then the more inense the intervention should be.

Robin

Just to add . My son did not have enough phonemic awareness for PG. I couldn’t get past recognizing one letter. He also had speech articulation probs. We realized he wasn’t “hearing” certain sounds within words. For Ex: He would say bodygod instead of bodyguaRRd. When told there was a RRR in there he would try to remember to articulate it and self correct but plainly could not hear himself. LIPS teaches kids to feel the sounds they can’t hear in their mouth. My son didn’t have any other obvious symptoms of CAPD but he fit the profile described in Lindamood-Bell’s website. I’m not sure the description of intense would have helped me when I was trying to figure out which way to go. I think the advice to try PG -which is cheaper esp thru Reading Reflex first -first but if it doesn’t work run to LIPS was most helpful for me. . Also don’t try skipping the LIPS step and order Seeing Stars because your child can recognize most phonemes. Tried that and so did one other MOm I’ve seen on this board. When you call LB they sort of say LIPS is too complicated to try to learn and teach yourself wo a workshop but Seeing Stars is more self-explanatory. Not knowing enough then I thought I’d try the Seeing Stars first.
If your kid can recognize most of the beginning sounds but can’t even recognize two letters toether despite intensive work with him. If you can read hat, bat , mat two million times and 5 seconds later they’re still new words -then I would say run to LIPS.

My son, who is CAPD, fit all the characteristic UKmum discusses. He would immed. forget the word. He needed incredible repetition. Now he did learn to read with PG. He reads beginning third grade material fluently but is finishing third grade. But after two years of PG, we are going to have a LIPS tutor this summer.

So I def. would try PG first. It is faster and cheaper and works for most kids. But run to LIPS if PG doesn’t work adequately. (I would have intervened with a LIPS tutor earlier, if I could have found one.)

Beth

Hi Beth,

I’ve seen you posting enough that I feel that I know you. I’m really interested in how your son does with the LIPS tutour this summer. Best of luck!
I really can’t believe Jack is actually reading. I don’tthink he’ll be satisfied until we go thru Seeing Stars. He wants to read everything. The tutour said the first time she showed him text and the letters came together into words the look on his face was priceless. “So that’s what you’ve been on about? Why wasn’t it there before? I CAN do this!!”

That’s so wonderful!! My son still dislikes reading even though he can read. I think it is because he has visual and auditory processing problems feeding into reading, both of which make the process more difficult. In other words, it is just too much work for him. We start tutoring in a week and a half—the week after school is out. I am hoping that LIPS will automate the auditory part.

My son just finished Interative Metronome with wonderful scores. I see real differences in his motor planning. He tied his shoes yesterday and it was the first time I didn’t have to control myself from doing it for him. I am not sure how this will feed into reading but one of the therapists we are working with recommended it prior to doing LIPS because it would help organize him. (He has sensory integration problems/motor planning as well).

Beth

I’m afraid we’ve just gone the velcro way for shoes. I know I read something about balancing on a plank that you tried and I’ve thought about trying somethig like that. By accident I saw it on a program to improve golf swings!!! after i read your post. The LIPS seems to be improving son’s sequential memory. He’s been able to do longer and longer lists of things. Have been making him power drink with calcium and flax seed oil and evening primrose just in case. Have thought I’d just go to cursive Handwriting wo Tears, but waiting til after he finishes his 6 weeks LIPS. Then in fall we’ll start in another course and do Seeing Stars.

My son refused to wear velcro after about age 6. I think he thought it made him different and wasn’t he already different, not knowing how to read. It wasn’t until 8 that he could tie his shoes at all and until IM, it wasn’t easy. I used to double knot them in the morning and hope for the best. Velcro does make life easier!

That’s great about memory and LIPS too. I will be interested to see what tutor says. I think she thinks it is odd that I want her to come when he can read.

Beth

I can’t stand the sound of kids playing with velcro all day, so I bought my daughter some elastic shoelaces. I found really neat ones in neon colours that worked like a charm, but if you can’t buy them you can make your own out of 1/4” elastic. Then tie a hard double knot at the right tension and never untie them again.
My daughter did learn to tie her shoes in Grade 2 or so, around four years after she learned to read, and a year or so before her writing became sort of legible. Have faith.
Now the shoe stores are selling these weird shoes that have elastic sides built in and no laces, and she has gone back to that most of the time. You should be able to find these in smaller sizes for your kids, and look for the end-of-season sales.

I have read all the post reguarding Phonographix and lips. I have the book reading reflex, but I don’t know what LIPS is. Please let me know where I can get more info. Thanks, Kathye