People with dyslexia can have problems on remembering numbers and codes. In the adult world, having this ability is important, since this is related in managing bank accounts and dealing with monetary issues.
Here are some techniques that most dyslexics use in order to cope up with their number problems.
Whole Number Method
Some people with dyslexia use the whole number method when they are trying to remember phone numbers. Here, you basically group the first three digits and consider it as a whole number. Then you divide the last four digits, into two groups, and consider them as two whole numbers.
For example, the phone number is 806-6757; this can be read as Eight hundred six, sixty seven, and fifty seven. By doing this method you are allowed to visualize the sounds of words, which make it harder for you to forget them.
Dates
Some dyslexics use the date method when remembering codes. For example you can use the year you were born as your door code number or pin number.
Pattern Method
Another method used in remembering numbers is through the use of patterns. By creating a pattern of numbers in the phone pad, it can be easier for you to remember the numbers. For example, “1478” makes a pattern of a capital “L” while “25846” makes a cross.
Use Your Knuckles
Most kids use this method to remember how many days are there in one month. Using this, even though you are not a kid is alright. In fact, a lot of dyslexic adults use this method, since you have your knuckles anywhere you go.
Comparing Numbers
Some dyslexics have problems with comparing numbers. Some do not have the ability to visually compare numbers. If you are having the same kind of problem, then you can try using your calculator to know that the numbers are different. You can do this by subtracting one number from the other. If you get a zero, then this means they are the same, if not, then they are different.
Money Matters
Some conditions of dyslexia may give you problems in counting money. Some people find this very embarrassing. To avoid counting out change, what is usually done by dyslexics is to be ready by simply having a larger bill than your estimated amount of purchase.
In this way you can accumulate a lot of change. You can then get rid of these by already counting out the exact amount of small purchases that you will be making in the near future. Putting the counted amount into a separate change purse then would make the whole process easier for you.
Dot Method
Some dyslexics that have problems in understanding number concepts and using this method is one way they help themselves. Here you visualize a specific pattern of dots for the numbers one to nine. Using a dice can be helpful too.
Drawing
Some use their ability to draw in remembering phone numbers. In this method, you perceive the numbers as parts of a whole picture or drawing. The picture is what is then stored in your mind. With just a little concentration on your part, remembering numbers won’t be a problem anymore.
These are just some of the ways how some adults with dyslexia have managed to deal with their condition. However, you should take note that each technique can vary from one case to another. That is why its effectiveness can differ too.
sâmbătă, 3 octombrie 2009
Adult Dyslexia Late Diagnosis: Is There Still Hope?
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects people of all ages. Just as with other disabilities, early detection of the condition and early intervention are beneficial to the person with the disability. However, this is not always the case with dyslexia.
An Overlooked Beginning
Most of the time, the beginnings of dyslexia is overlooked, which is the reason why a lot of cases are only diagnosed during adulthood. To think of it, in present culture when a child has not yet learned to fluently read by the age of ten or eleven years, he or she would be often thought of to be lacking in motivation or intelligence.
Most people would think that they are stupid or lazy. However, in most cases, they are neither of the two. Most likely, they have dyslexia, which is a learning disability that causes their difficulty in understanding written language, even though they have normal or even higher-than-normal IQ.
Faulty Wiring And Early Detection
The most recent studies show that the difficulties in reading that dyslexic people experience are due to "faulty wiring" in specific brain areas that have a relation to learning and language. Research also shows that identifiable genetic variations or defects are the partial cause of this faulty wiring.
Early screening and detection for such variations makes it possible for you to have appropriate and timely remedial training. Most experts suggest that children should be allowed to deal with their condition to overcome it and at least learn how to read at an acceptable level. However, since dyslexia is sometimes only diagnosed during adulthood, the benefits of early detection are not maximized.
Late Detection
Although there are people who only become dyslexic during their adulthood, due to stroke and traumatic brain injury, in most cases the condition is a developmental disorder. According to experts, still, the majority of cases reported of people with dyslexia are adults who have had it ever since childhood but only knew they had it when they were already adults.
This late detection of the condition is something most adult dyslexics are troubled with since early intervention is not a choice anymore. However, if you are one of those who had late detection, there is no reason to be troubled. Intervention no matter how early or late is still intervention, even though they may have varying effects.
The Issue On Brain Plasticity
Late detection becomes an issue due to the premise of brain plasticity. Research shows that younger people or even animals have a more elastic brain than older counterparts. The relevance of brain plasticity is that it is one important factor in relation to intervention.
Since the brain is more elastic when you are younger; rewiring of the brain is then possible, since it hasn’t reached its mature state and continues to develop. Thus, if ever a learning disability like dyslexia is present, then your brain can still be developed to function at a more acceptable level, where the condition has minimal effect.
A lot of adults recently diagnosed with the condition fear that intervention would do them no good, simply because their brain is not as elastic anymore as children’s. However, recent studies show that the brain’s property of elasticity is still present even with adults.
This recent finding on plasticity in the adult brain is a breakthrough for adult dyslexics. So if you are an adult that had late diagnosis, then be happy! There is still hope for your condition to improve, even if only to an acceptable level.
An Overlooked Beginning
Most of the time, the beginnings of dyslexia is overlooked, which is the reason why a lot of cases are only diagnosed during adulthood. To think of it, in present culture when a child has not yet learned to fluently read by the age of ten or eleven years, he or she would be often thought of to be lacking in motivation or intelligence.
Most people would think that they are stupid or lazy. However, in most cases, they are neither of the two. Most likely, they have dyslexia, which is a learning disability that causes their difficulty in understanding written language, even though they have normal or even higher-than-normal IQ.
Faulty Wiring And Early Detection
The most recent studies show that the difficulties in reading that dyslexic people experience are due to "faulty wiring" in specific brain areas that have a relation to learning and language. Research also shows that identifiable genetic variations or defects are the partial cause of this faulty wiring.
Early screening and detection for such variations makes it possible for you to have appropriate and timely remedial training. Most experts suggest that children should be allowed to deal with their condition to overcome it and at least learn how to read at an acceptable level. However, since dyslexia is sometimes only diagnosed during adulthood, the benefits of early detection are not maximized.
Late Detection
Although there are people who only become dyslexic during their adulthood, due to stroke and traumatic brain injury, in most cases the condition is a developmental disorder. According to experts, still, the majority of cases reported of people with dyslexia are adults who have had it ever since childhood but only knew they had it when they were already adults.
This late detection of the condition is something most adult dyslexics are troubled with since early intervention is not a choice anymore. However, if you are one of those who had late detection, there is no reason to be troubled. Intervention no matter how early or late is still intervention, even though they may have varying effects.
The Issue On Brain Plasticity
Late detection becomes an issue due to the premise of brain plasticity. Research shows that younger people or even animals have a more elastic brain than older counterparts. The relevance of brain plasticity is that it is one important factor in relation to intervention.
Since the brain is more elastic when you are younger; rewiring of the brain is then possible, since it hasn’t reached its mature state and continues to develop. Thus, if ever a learning disability like dyslexia is present, then your brain can still be developed to function at a more acceptable level, where the condition has minimal effect.
A lot of adults recently diagnosed with the condition fear that intervention would do them no good, simply because their brain is not as elastic anymore as children’s. However, recent studies show that the brain’s property of elasticity is still present even with adults.
This recent finding on plasticity in the adult brain is a breakthrough for adult dyslexics. So if you are an adult that had late diagnosis, then be happy! There is still hope for your condition to improve, even if only to an acceptable level.
Adult Dyslexia Awareness: Courses For The Work Place
Recently, a lot of attention has been given to the rights of people with disabilities. These rights include being able to have work, and not be discriminated by his or her colleagues. The workplace should also provide proper support for their employees’ condition, no matter what kind of disability the employee has.
One disability that may have great effect in the workplace is dyslexia. However, a lot of companies nowadays are trying their best to accommodate people with this condition into their working force. That is why they have to meet and provide for certain needs, so that employees with this condition can optimally work in the company.
Improving Your Workplace
In fact, there are special institutions that provide assistance to companies and employers in able to help out their dyslexic employees. Some specialized institutions offer courses and sessions that target the workplace’s improvement in relation to the presence of dyslexia.
The programs offered can vary, depending on the wanted outcome of the company. Each program has a different end goal, but generally they are tailored to improve the company and dyslexic employees’ relationship. Here are some of the common courses offered by some institutions for this purpose.
Professional Development Programs
Professional development should be continuous; thus, there are courses that can be taken by your company’s HR personnel, psychologists, trainers, and managers that are designed to upgrade their skills, particularly in regards to assessing dyslexia.
In this kind of program, they can learn and understand more about the said condition. The difficulties that are faced by dyslexic employees are pinpointed and discussed too. Additionally, some ways on how to make adjustments to enable your dyslexic employees to reach success and productivity are also tackled.
Workplace Awareness Programs
The awareness of your workplace about the condition of dyslexia can be invaluable to the success of your company. There are courses and briefings that can be conducted to increase the awareness of all your employees about such kind of condition.
Here, dyslexia is explained using layman’s terms, in a manner that everyone can easily understand. Your employees are also exposed on how the condition can affect an individual, along with the skills and talents that dyslexic people possess. Basically, they are familiarized to the nature of the condition.
Ways on making adjustments and overcoming problems caused by the condition in the workplace are also discussed. All of your employees are also given tips on how they should relate with an officemate that has the condition. Additionally, they are taught how to cooperate with each other.
Skill Development Programs
This kind of program is focused on the development of the skill of your dyslexic employee. Improvement tips are taught, along with strategies on how to overcome common dyslexic problems. Confidence building is also a target for the program, since most adult dyslexics are frustrated and has low self-esteem due to their condition.
The flow of the program may vary depending on the individual being trained, his or her skills and weaknesses.
Work Skills Evaluation Program
This kind of program is made to ensure that the skills of the person you are eyeing to hire appropriately meet your job requirement. Additionally, it ensures you’re your dyslexic employee can work productively and efficiently.
Here, evaluation on whether extra training is needed by the employee to improve his or her skills. Also recommendations, on whether or not your employee needs computer aid, are also done.
One disability that may have great effect in the workplace is dyslexia. However, a lot of companies nowadays are trying their best to accommodate people with this condition into their working force. That is why they have to meet and provide for certain needs, so that employees with this condition can optimally work in the company.
Improving Your Workplace
In fact, there are special institutions that provide assistance to companies and employers in able to help out their dyslexic employees. Some specialized institutions offer courses and sessions that target the workplace’s improvement in relation to the presence of dyslexia.
The programs offered can vary, depending on the wanted outcome of the company. Each program has a different end goal, but generally they are tailored to improve the company and dyslexic employees’ relationship. Here are some of the common courses offered by some institutions for this purpose.
Professional Development Programs
Professional development should be continuous; thus, there are courses that can be taken by your company’s HR personnel, psychologists, trainers, and managers that are designed to upgrade their skills, particularly in regards to assessing dyslexia.
In this kind of program, they can learn and understand more about the said condition. The difficulties that are faced by dyslexic employees are pinpointed and discussed too. Additionally, some ways on how to make adjustments to enable your dyslexic employees to reach success and productivity are also tackled.
Workplace Awareness Programs
The awareness of your workplace about the condition of dyslexia can be invaluable to the success of your company. There are courses and briefings that can be conducted to increase the awareness of all your employees about such kind of condition.
Here, dyslexia is explained using layman’s terms, in a manner that everyone can easily understand. Your employees are also exposed on how the condition can affect an individual, along with the skills and talents that dyslexic people possess. Basically, they are familiarized to the nature of the condition.
Ways on making adjustments and overcoming problems caused by the condition in the workplace are also discussed. All of your employees are also given tips on how they should relate with an officemate that has the condition. Additionally, they are taught how to cooperate with each other.
Skill Development Programs
This kind of program is focused on the development of the skill of your dyslexic employee. Improvement tips are taught, along with strategies on how to overcome common dyslexic problems. Confidence building is also a target for the program, since most adult dyslexics are frustrated and has low self-esteem due to their condition.
The flow of the program may vary depending on the individual being trained, his or her skills and weaknesses.
Work Skills Evaluation Program
This kind of program is made to ensure that the skills of the person you are eyeing to hire appropriately meet your job requirement. Additionally, it ensures you’re your dyslexic employee can work productively and efficiently.
Here, evaluation on whether extra training is needed by the employee to improve his or her skills. Also recommendations, on whether or not your employee needs computer aid, are also done.
vineri, 2 octombrie 2009
Adult Dyslexia And Related Conditions: Irlen Syndrome
One condition that a dyslexic person may have is the Irlen Syndrome. This condition is very much related to dyslexia since, they both have a number of similar symptoms. Additionally, a lot of dyslexics have this syndrome, along with having dyslexia itself.
From research and testing, it was found that a diversity of problems could result from seeing a distorted page of numbers, words, and musical notes. It can actually affect reading, spelling, and writing. Also, there are times that math, copying skills, music reading, driving, sports performance, ability to work on a computer, and being comfortable under fluorescent lights are also affected.
Defining Irlen
People with this syndrome perceive the printed page in a different way than those people that has normal vision. If you have this, you are obliged to constantly adapt to the distortions you are seeing on the printed page.
You can become a slow or inefficient reader because of this. Additionally, you may exhibit poor comprehension, since you don’t really understand what you are reading. You can also suffer from headaches, strain, or fatigue.
The condition can affect your attention-span, motivation, energy-level, depth-perception, handwriting, and most of all, your self-esteem. People who sufferers from this condition are sometimes labeled as underachievers that have behavioral, motivational or attitudinal problems.
This syndrome is considered to be a variable and complex condition that is often found co-existing with other learning-disabilities, such as dyslexia.
The Beginnings
The syndrome was identified first by Helen Irlen, an Educational Psychologist. This happened in the 1980’s while working in California with adult-learners. She was able to observe that a number of her students can read with better ease every time they used a colored overlay to cover the printed page they are reading.
Treatment
If you are a dyslexic with this condition, you would have to undergo the patented treatment-method. Here you need to use specially formulated, colored overlays or colored lenses. You can wear these as glasses or even contact lenses. Once you use the lenses, a reduction or even elimination of perceptual-difficulties is experienced.
Their program is specifically designed to fulfill the needs of people with learning difficulties, such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other conditions that can interfere with sufficient functioning inside the workplace, classroom, and socially.
Symptoms
Some symptoms of this syndrome are poor reading comprehension, reading in dim light, misreads words, skipping of words or lines, slow or hesitant manner of reading, and avoidance of reading itself.
While reading, a person with this condition can have numerous complaints like strain, fatigue, tiredness, sleepiness, headaches, and nausea. A person may also seem restless and fidgety while doing the task.
In regards to writing, you can have some trouble copying words, unequal spacing between characters, uphill or downhill direction of writing, and inconsistent spelling of words.
When using the computer, you can also feel fatigue and strain. You may also experience some difficulty when reading music. Also, you often have sloppy or careless math mistakes. When you write numbers in columns, they are also misaligned.
One obvious symptom however is the syndrome’s effect on your depth perception. You are often clumsy and have difficulty with sports that involve catching balls. You may also have problems in judging distances.
Most of the time, when people with dyslexia undergo treatment, the intervention is not successful since there is an underlying presence of Irlen Syndrome. That is why getting an assessment for this condition is equally important when you have dyslexia.
From research and testing, it was found that a diversity of problems could result from seeing a distorted page of numbers, words, and musical notes. It can actually affect reading, spelling, and writing. Also, there are times that math, copying skills, music reading, driving, sports performance, ability to work on a computer, and being comfortable under fluorescent lights are also affected.
Defining Irlen
People with this syndrome perceive the printed page in a different way than those people that has normal vision. If you have this, you are obliged to constantly adapt to the distortions you are seeing on the printed page.
You can become a slow or inefficient reader because of this. Additionally, you may exhibit poor comprehension, since you don’t really understand what you are reading. You can also suffer from headaches, strain, or fatigue.
The condition can affect your attention-span, motivation, energy-level, depth-perception, handwriting, and most of all, your self-esteem. People who sufferers from this condition are sometimes labeled as underachievers that have behavioral, motivational or attitudinal problems.
This syndrome is considered to be a variable and complex condition that is often found co-existing with other learning-disabilities, such as dyslexia.
The Beginnings
The syndrome was identified first by Helen Irlen, an Educational Psychologist. This happened in the 1980’s while working in California with adult-learners. She was able to observe that a number of her students can read with better ease every time they used a colored overlay to cover the printed page they are reading.
Treatment
If you are a dyslexic with this condition, you would have to undergo the patented treatment-method. Here you need to use specially formulated, colored overlays or colored lenses. You can wear these as glasses or even contact lenses. Once you use the lenses, a reduction or even elimination of perceptual-difficulties is experienced.
Their program is specifically designed to fulfill the needs of people with learning difficulties, such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other conditions that can interfere with sufficient functioning inside the workplace, classroom, and socially.
Symptoms
Some symptoms of this syndrome are poor reading comprehension, reading in dim light, misreads words, skipping of words or lines, slow or hesitant manner of reading, and avoidance of reading itself.
While reading, a person with this condition can have numerous complaints like strain, fatigue, tiredness, sleepiness, headaches, and nausea. A person may also seem restless and fidgety while doing the task.
In regards to writing, you can have some trouble copying words, unequal spacing between characters, uphill or downhill direction of writing, and inconsistent spelling of words.
When using the computer, you can also feel fatigue and strain. You may also experience some difficulty when reading music. Also, you often have sloppy or careless math mistakes. When you write numbers in columns, they are also misaligned.
One obvious symptom however is the syndrome’s effect on your depth perception. You are often clumsy and have difficulty with sports that involve catching balls. You may also have problems in judging distances.
Most of the time, when people with dyslexia undergo treatment, the intervention is not successful since there is an underlying presence of Irlen Syndrome. That is why getting an assessment for this condition is equally important when you have dyslexia.
Adult Dyslexia: Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program
Another program to treat adult dyslexia is the Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program (LIPS). This program generally uses phoneme awareness as its method to learn how to read efficiently.
The Program’s Premise
This method believes in the premise that the primary cause of problems related to decoding and spelling is the individual’s complexity in judging the identity, sound sequence and number that is found within words. This inability is then termed to be “weak phoneme awareness”.
A dyslexic person is basically thought of to have a weakness in his or her phonological processing. This weakness is the said cause on why both children and adults tend to add, substitute, omit, and reverse the sounds and the letters within the words that they read.
People with dyslexia cannot precisely get the words they are reading off the page, simply because even though they can correctly see the letters, they are unable to judge whether what they see would match what they are about to say. Because of this poor judgment, they are prevented from correcting and detecting their errors in spelling, reading and speech. Additionally, this can be the cause of difficulty when a person tries to learn a second language.
What It Does
The program aims to successfully develop a person with dyslexia’s phoneme awareness. Here you are able to apply the so-called awareness to your reading, spelling, writing, and speech both remedially and preventively.
If you train in this kind of program, you are aided to find out the different mouth actions that can produce real speech sounds. By the use of this kind of sensory information, you can verify sounds and know their order within words. Once you know this kind of skill, you are then enabled to correct yourself when reading, writing, spelling, and speaking.
Program Intensity
Generally, people under this program tend to gain several grade levels on their decoding ability within four to six weeks of having intensive training and treatment. If you are to undergo an intensive program, then you are required to undergo therapy for four hours in a day.
However, if you still have the choice on how intense you want your program to be. If you want it light, then they can adjust it so.
Findings have also shown that additional gains in speech and language skills have also occurred by the means of this sensory-cognitive method. This was observed even after the individuals have already reached a plateau through the traditional approach of speech therapy.
Where You Can Find It
You can undergo this kind of program by going to a Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes Center. You can find one in over fifteen states in the United States and United Kingdom. The public can have access to materials that are included in the program such as a manual with a detailed presentation of the steps that you have to take in the program. Some outlines and sample dialogues are also included.
You would also need some of their support products. Some of these are their classroom kit, program clinical kit, training videos, a practice CD, and a testing kit. These products are included already when you apply for their program.
Other Conditions For The Program
The program also caters to other conditions related to dyslexia, such as hyperlexia. This is a condition where you may have specific problems in comprehending the data that you just read, even though you can read it accurately.
The Program’s Premise
This method believes in the premise that the primary cause of problems related to decoding and spelling is the individual’s complexity in judging the identity, sound sequence and number that is found within words. This inability is then termed to be “weak phoneme awareness”.
A dyslexic person is basically thought of to have a weakness in his or her phonological processing. This weakness is the said cause on why both children and adults tend to add, substitute, omit, and reverse the sounds and the letters within the words that they read.
People with dyslexia cannot precisely get the words they are reading off the page, simply because even though they can correctly see the letters, they are unable to judge whether what they see would match what they are about to say. Because of this poor judgment, they are prevented from correcting and detecting their errors in spelling, reading and speech. Additionally, this can be the cause of difficulty when a person tries to learn a second language.
What It Does
The program aims to successfully develop a person with dyslexia’s phoneme awareness. Here you are able to apply the so-called awareness to your reading, spelling, writing, and speech both remedially and preventively.
If you train in this kind of program, you are aided to find out the different mouth actions that can produce real speech sounds. By the use of this kind of sensory information, you can verify sounds and know their order within words. Once you know this kind of skill, you are then enabled to correct yourself when reading, writing, spelling, and speaking.
Program Intensity
Generally, people under this program tend to gain several grade levels on their decoding ability within four to six weeks of having intensive training and treatment. If you are to undergo an intensive program, then you are required to undergo therapy for four hours in a day.
However, if you still have the choice on how intense you want your program to be. If you want it light, then they can adjust it so.
Findings have also shown that additional gains in speech and language skills have also occurred by the means of this sensory-cognitive method. This was observed even after the individuals have already reached a plateau through the traditional approach of speech therapy.
Where You Can Find It
You can undergo this kind of program by going to a Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes Center. You can find one in over fifteen states in the United States and United Kingdom. The public can have access to materials that are included in the program such as a manual with a detailed presentation of the steps that you have to take in the program. Some outlines and sample dialogues are also included.
You would also need some of their support products. Some of these are their classroom kit, program clinical kit, training videos, a practice CD, and a testing kit. These products are included already when you apply for their program.
Other Conditions For The Program
The program also caters to other conditions related to dyslexia, such as hyperlexia. This is a condition where you may have specific problems in comprehending the data that you just read, even though you can read it accurately.
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