RAN deficit: what is it, how to fix it

A RAN deficit is a reading disability that implies the kid can probably decode adequately, but that he/she lacks the ability to read easily and at a normal rate. Ran stands for something like rapid naming.

There are a few programs that work specifically on fluency like “Great Leaps”. This works by having the child read and reread and do this frequently. I think frequent practice is a necessity.

I think that Seeing Stars works on rapid naming by teaching the child to visualize letters, words, and word patterns.

Janis has worked with Great Leaps and there are a few people here that have worked with Seeing Stars.

—des

Yes, as des said, RAN and fluency are connected. Rapid naming has to do with word retrieval. A child that can’t get the words out quickly enough may not read fluently and that may hinder comprehension. There isn’t a whole lot out on rapid naming. Has she had a speech-language eval? I’d ask for her to be tested on word finding or word retrieval. It might be something the SLP can work on with her.

But the bottom line is, there is no easy “fix” for rapid naming problems.

Janis

Oh good point , Janis. It would be good to know what the problems were in rapid naming. IF they were across the board, ie in naming colors and objects, the problem can be more a speech and language than a reading problem. So a speech language eval. is a good idea.
If the problem is in reading then a few programs address this but there isn’t any magic bullet. Still I think practice has shown to be effective, if the problem is a reading one.

Too bad that RAVE-O program is not available yet. I think it would be just the ticket for a lot of kids.

—des

I have found RAN diagnoses to have much more impact than just on reading. RAN stands for “rapid automatic naming”.

My understanding is that bodywork is the only type of therapy that can improve RAN. NeuroNet (http://www.neuronetonline.com ) is the best of these that I have run across. Other programs that touch on it are DORE and Brain Gym.

Once bodywork has stimulated the neurology, cognitive training exercises can develop skills. The best of these programs, in my experience, is PACE (http://www.processingskills.com ) but Audiblox is a much less expensive home program that is also very good (http://www.audiblox2000.com ).

In my experience, reading fluency work proceeds extremely slowly when there is a RAN deficit. It’s okay to do this, but in the long run I think it is much more effective to first spend time and energy on bodywork, followed by cognitive training, before starting reading fluency work. When this happens, the reading fluency gets much more significant results. Also, learning in academic areas other than reading improves also.

Nancy

What test is given to determine there is a RAN deficit?

CTOPS (Comprehensive Test of Phonological something or other) has a couple subtests devoted to RAN. One subtest is rapid naming of colors, one of objects, and one of letters (I think, haven’t actually seen this test).

—des