Kids Who Read, But Don't Understand
agoddin
December 6, 2006 at
4:03PM EST
With placement tests and pressures applied by No Child Left Behind,
there’s more emphasis than ever on improving the reading skills of
grade school children. But some critics say there’s too much emphasis
on speed, rather than comprehension.
J. Kay Shevling, LCPC says:
December 13, 2006 @ 3:21PM EST
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Certified Senior Irlen Screener. This means I am licensed to diagnose and treat mental and behavioral disorders. I am also a member of the local Board of Education.
I believe it is a tragedy that educators in this country seem reluctant to learn about a disability that affects 10% to 15% of the population -- including me. This is a hypersensitivity to certain wavelengths of light making the black letters on white paper seem to move or blur. Reading becomes, not only difficult, but even painful for the people who have serious cases.
This is a factor in about 2/3 of the people who are diagnosed with dyslexia and also causes behavior that may be diagnosed as ADD and ADHD. About 20 years ago, certain people, including opthamologists, discounted this as not scientific saying all evidence was anecdotal. Now we have neuromagnetoencephalograms that prove the theory done by Dr. Jeffrey Lewine at the Hoglund Brain Imaging Center affiliated with the Kansas
University Medical Center.
The typical child with this disorder does well in first and second grade but hits a wall in third or fourth grade when letters become smaller and there are fewer pictures to help them. There are variations in the severity of the syndrome (called Scotopic Sensitivity [or Irlen] Syndrome), It is easy to detect, but it must be evaluated by a Certified Irlen Screener. The interventions are not drugs, but plastic tinted overlays, colored paper, or filters worn as lenses. In some cases, it's like a miracle, in others it just helps, but it sure is something that can raise test scores.
Check the website, or talk with someone who has experience with these interventions. I love to tell about some of my experiences!
You can call me at 913-422-5283 or (cell) 913-424-4810. Please, for the sake of children who are suffering, please look into this!
Kay
