I have a son who is sixteen and was diagnosed with learning disabilities about the time he entered High School. He tested with a very high IQ, however he has a terrible time completing assignments, and turning them in. He has had to retake many classes during the summer, because he failed them during the school year. He just doesn’t understand how to learn and has real trouble with awareness of , and ability to follow through on expectations from teachers. Even what appears to be simple things , such as putting homework in a notebook and handing it in. He will often do the work, but it will never get to the teacher. I have recently become aware that a new group is moving into our town and plans to “present the causes and solutions for learning problems”. The name of the group is Lindamood-Bell. I understand they have a corporate headquarters in San Luis Obispo. They also have a website: www.LindamoodBell.com. My question is: Has anyone out there participated in any of their programs or enrolled their kids in any programs with them and if so was it a help? I would like any and all feedback concerning this educational and testing group? thanks,Pat
Re: Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes
I agree with Lisaa. Phono-Graphix is a much less expensive program than LMB and usually remediates reading faster. Neither of these programs would help with the organizational problems you mention. They are both aimed at improving reading (although LMB also has some programs in other areas, such as math).
Try to get the book, “Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills”, edited by Judith Birsch, through inter-library loan (or buy it at Amazon). It has a chapter on organizational skills and the entire book is ***excellent***.
PACE is a program that often helps with attention and focus problems, and works well with older children. Website is http://www.learninginfo.com. It’s actually less expensive than LMB (runs about $2400 where we are) and much more comprehensive. It doesn’t directly address organizational issues, but they could improve as a result of PACE.
Mary
Re: Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes
I don’t know about Phono Graphix, but LiPs remediated in a very short period of time. My son went from below first grade level reading to third grade level in a matter of two or three months (he is in third grade). Of course, the program addressed just what he needed, and another child might not need the same sort of thing.
Just curious,…. does Phono-Graphix improve auditory problems? Does it teach the student how to ‘hear’ the sounds in words? I was told my son would need more than an OG approach as his couldn’t hear the sounds in words well enough. Is PG an OG program?
—Thanks in advance!
Re: Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes
PG is not an OG program. It does however, address the same skills- segmenting, blending and knowledge of the alphabetic code, albeit a little less clinically.
I am curious about what you were told about needing more than OG? I guess I am confused. My first thought is that the motor cues he has been taught in LIPS can be applied to any reading instruction he receives- one of the things I like about LIPS is that it is portable that way. The motor cue can be part of his personal key words to retrieve the sounds. Therapeutic reading instruction, which is what OG is, as well as LIPS and to a lesser extent PG, (sorry guys) should be flexible enough to incorporate whatever cues the child needs to integrate tha material. That is why I do not often recommend prepackaged programs and tend to stick with the therapeutic procedures those programs are based upon.
Robin
Re: Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes
Has he had a CAPD eval? Auditory processing problems interfere with the ability to hear sounds in words, and a program such as FastForWord (http://www.scilearn.com) might be in order. This program works directly on training the auditory system to process the sounds in words more efficiently. Because it’s pretty expensive, I would be inclined to get a CAPD eval before investing in FFW, especially since a CAPD eval is usually covered by medical insurance. You can find CAPD audiologists at http://pages.cthome.net/cbristol/
Although many audiologists stop short of recommending FFW because it has no independent confirming research, many also say it can make a dramatic difference for certain children, especially those with “auditory decoding deficit”.
OG works from letters to sounds. PG works from sounds to letters. This is a fundamental difference in approach. From what I know of LiPS and OG, PG and LiPS are in the same ballpark philosophically. The book, “Reading Reflex”, available in most bookstores for about $16, explains the entire PG approach (and also provides parents with a method for tutoring their own child).
My dd hated OG because she is a “big picture” learner, and OG teaches and reviews in very small increments. PG worked really well for her.
Mary
He should be screened for learning disorders; Free screenin
I really think he should be screened for the precise nature of his learning disorder. What do you mean learning disorder anyway? Visual processing disorder? Auditory processing disorder? Sleep disorder? Memory issues?
If you go to our church web-site (www.gracefwi.com) and click on the reading/learning disorders link, you will find two power point presentations, one on how to go about teaching reading, and another on how to screen for the most common learning disorders, and how to remediate them. Almost all learning disorders can be remediated at home. We have taken some pains to put this into a format that parents can do at home.
As for LMB, my daughter took it. It cost 8,000, and did nothing for her. (At the time she had significant auditory and visual issues, which have since been fixed). I do believe it is a useful program for children who have deficits in phonemic awareness but no specific learning disorder, however it is quite pricy. Also you don’t want to do it in a center during summer, because that is when all the trainees come from all over the world and practice on your child. If you do it, do it in Fall with experienced people. Experience counts tremendously.
Best wishes, Shari.
Re: He should be screened for learning disorders; Free scre
We also went through Lindamood-Bell and they do NOT practice on your children. Their clinicians are well trained, they only take people to work for them who are highly skilled in phonemic awareness and critical thinking skills.
I think the program gets a bad rap because of the cost (which is very expensive) but it does wonders for children with comprehension problems. Like any program, a child must use it for it to work. If it did nothing for a child, than that child is not motivated to use the program. It's intensive and they do learn it during the treatment phase. It's up to parents to make sure they follow through on it or you've wasted your money!
Re: Lots of good information on that website!
Thanks for posting it.
http://www.gracefwi.com/learningdisorders.htm
Mary
Dear Pat,
My son did some LMB and it was very helpful for him. HOWEVER, LMB programs are very, very expensive.
If I understand correctly, LMB attempts to remediate the root of the LD, whatever that might be. For example LiPs teaches students who have auditory problems how to ‘hear’ the sounds in words. This program and part of Seeing Stars helped my son make huge gains in reading and spelling.
I am a big fan of LMB programs, but not of LMB, the company, who I feel charges WAY too much money because it can take advantage of desparate parents. This is just my oppinion.
If, after looking into it, you deside your son could use this type of remediation, you may be able to find a tutor or alterant provider of LMB tutoring…That is what I did.
Lisaa