Dyslexia & Learning Difficulties

What is Dyslexia or Learning Difficulties?

Dyslexia refers to a general cluster of symptoms around reading, writing, spelling and learning difficulties. Some people with dyslexia will also have sensory processing issues and motor delays

Generally

  • Appears bright, intelligent and articulate but is unable to read, write or spell at grade level.
  • Labelled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, “not trying hard enough”, or “behaviour problem”.
  • Isn’t “behind enough” or “bad enough” to be helped in the school setting.
  • High in IQ, tests well orally but not in written form.
  • Feels dumb, poor self-esteem; covers up weaknesses with compensatory strategies; easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing.
  • Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, storytelling, sales, business, designing, building or engineering.
  • Seems to “zone-out” or daydream often; gets lost easily or loses track of time.
  • Difficulty sustaining attention; seems “hyper”.
  • Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation and visual aids.

Memory and Cognition

  • Excellent long-term memory for experiences, locations and faces.
  • Poor memory for sequences, facts and information that has not been experienced.
  • Thinks primarily with images and feelings, not sounds or words (little internal dialogue)

Behaviour, Health, Development, Personality

  • Extremely disorderly or compulsively orderly.
  • Can be class clown, troublemaker or too quiet.
  • Had unusually early or late developmental stages (talking, walking, crawling, tying shoelaces)
  • Prone to ear infections, sensitive to foods, additives and chemical products.
     

What approach does Kids Matters Occupational Therapy offer for Dyslexia and Learning Difficulties?

Full assessment of child's individual differences in Sensory processing, reading, writing, spelling, learning, motor skills, play, organisation and planning etc.

Sensory Integration Based treatments for any sensory processing issues

Specific structured learning interventions as required including:

  • fine motor skill remediation
  • gross motor skill remediation
  • visual motor integration
  • handwriting
  • reading
  • play skills

Cognitive based interventions to help the child understand and regulate his or her arousal such as a version of "the Alert Program"

DIR/Floor-time based treatements for deficits in the functional emotional developmental levels

  • Regulation
  • Engagement
  • Shared Attention and interest in the world
  • Symbolic play / Imagination
  • Bridging and sequencing ideas
  • Problem-solving

Suggested Programs:

  • Astronaut Program for low confidence/ fear of movement for enhanced visual, auditory and vestibular integration
  • Therapeutic listening for auditory defensiveness, improved attention and auditory, vestibular, postural and breath integration
  • Sensory Diet for calming and organising the nervous system
  • Alert Program to help understand arousal level and how to change it
  • Lexia cross-trainer and reading programs

Specific Learning Disabilities Association Queensland >
Dyslexia Queensland >