Interesting website - links dyslexia, auditory, vestibular a

An excerpt in case you don’t want to read thru the site:

” For many researchers, the similarity between the phonological and visual deficits is a sign for the direction of future research. States Rutgers’ professor Paula Tallal, “What’s wrong with vision seems awfully similar to what’s wrong with audition. It’s a timing problem.” (Travis, 1996). She and other researchers are now suggesting that the visual, phonological, and even vestibullary difficulties noted in most dyslexics may stem from an overall rapid-processing sensory deficit. “

Wow! That’s my kid!!!!

Very interesting link. Thanks for sharing!!!

By the way, I found a place near me that does what they call “high speed” sports training. According to the information I have they specialize in functional core strengthening, speed, vertical leap and overall power improvements, medicine ball and stability ball training, and high speed training. They use all kinds of interesting equipment too.

Although they aim at training those wanting to become professional atheletes, I called and inquired about training for a less atheletic or “clumsy” type of kid and the trainer I spoke with told me that they will work with just about anyone. He said that the training makes an incredible difference and that the youngest kids they can work with are 8, so my son may be a candidate. Does this sound like it might be helpful? (at least until we can get into IM!)

Also, the price was extremely reasonable for a 1 hour workout twice a week.

Great link - just too short! :-) It describes my son to a “T.”

Lil

I think anything you do to improve coordination will help. I think there is a group of kids whose academic problems are tied up with their motor planning/vestibular issues. My son is one of those and I suspect, from your posts, your son may be too.

Beth

Sounds amazing! I wish there was something like that near me. I think it would be something my son would really enjoy too!

Is this something that is part of a health club? How did you find it?

PS. I was thinking of you today because I was considering trying monocular occlusion. I thought I could get a pair of sunglasses and block out one eye so that he could use them for reading and for his visual exercises that we do. I was thinking of contacting Dr. Stein directly for advice on how to do it.

I also ran across this link about a new treatment for dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADD that is only available in the UK and texas right now. WHat’s interesting though if you read their stuff, is that by doing customized motor activity they develop a part of the brain that they claim is related to reading, motor planning etc.

Maybe there really is a name for what our kids “have” but to call it just dyslexia or just inattention is missing the big picture. And yes it lends weight (in my mind) to the validity of IM - also known as the “$4000 handstand” in my house.

Here’s the link:
http://www.ddat.co.uk/

Thanks for the information. There is lots for me to read. Sounds like my son, too.

There seems to be a small bunch of us with kids that fit this profile - so come join our little party ! : )

This sports training center is not part of a health club. It’s just a general sports training center whose main aim appears to be helping top atheletes get better.

I happened to come across their ad in a community magazine and throught I’d call up and recommend they add IM to their program! ;-)

I’m going to try and bring my son over sometime this week and take a look at exactly what they do.

Even if this type of thing doesn’t help with reading or learning, it would be nice in general and for self-esteem. Although I have to agree that, although there are plenty of kids with motor difficulties who have no learning difficulties, for some children, learning may be tied to motor.

Speaking about motor and SID….I recently started hanging my son’s shirts (50 cotton/50 polyester) to dry after washing (instead of throwing them in the dryer). Well, wouldn’t you know, he can TELL that something’s wrong and he has been refusing to wear most of his shirts lately!!! Sometimes I’m amazed at how he can feel such a minor difference.

….so, now everything’s going into the dryer!

P.s. We tried monocular occlusion with a pirate’s eye patch (this didn’t work great). What seemed to work best was a semi-sticky square of tape with a slightly smaller square of napkin in the middle (so it only sticks on the outer edges of the eye). However, it was somewhat distracting for my son. If you hear of something better for this please let me know.

Dr. Stein used yellow glasses with one of the lenses occluded. I think you could pick up a pair of cheap sunglasses. He also gave a scientific explanation (I can’t explain it off the top of my head but it made sense) for the reason some people do better with tinted lenses so having the lense slightly tinted should not interfere and may help.

How can you be sure which eye you need to occlude? Is it the same for every child? How much time per day does your son have his eye occluded?

Maybe I’m wrong here, but I recall reading something in Dr. Stein’s work about occluding the left eye.

I haven’t done this very much! We’ve only tried it a couple of times and it’s difficult to tell if it has made any difference for my son.

To be quite honest I think just reading A LOT, and reading difficult text is the biggest help. I’m also using the lists on the Resource Room website. For example, I’m going over “Soft Ce”
with my son right now. I’m basically trying to get him to easily recognize the more difficult patterns, or rather “try out” the different sounds a pattern may stand for. What I’m concentrating on is mental flexibiltiy. For example, getting him to try the different sounds and then being able to recognize the right one.

And this is not easy!

Laura,

I totally agree about the reading difficult text to improve tracking and other reading skills. I do the same thing. I guess great minds do think alike. I have my son read a book I am reading to him first for at least 3 to 4 pages. This was the idea that Jerome Rosner believed about tracking. He thinks that reading itself is the best exercise.
I am still doing the circle ‘e’s. I do think those have helped his reading.

I think your idea about attempting to get him to become a more flexible thinker is great.
I like Dr Stein’s work and really want to try it. I wish there was a physician who was up on this technique that I could go to that could moniter his progress and help me implement this. I am going to ask the developmental optomotrist we are going to on Jan 9 his opinion on Dr Stein’s work. If this truely does work I could imagine such a person having a monetary interest in not pursuing it as an option. Just think if we could treat children this way there would be little need for expensive vision therapy.
If I find out more I will let you know.

I just had to cancel our appointment with a behavioral optometrist due to scheduling. (Poor kid is way over booked with school interviews, evaluations etc) so I’m interested in anything I can do at home. Haven’t finished reading up on dr. stein yet.

BTW, we had him evaluated at Lindamood Bell last friday, and will be getting feedback this week. It will be interesting to know what they think…