FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Everything You Need to Know
WHAT IS READING THERAPY?
Reading Therapy (also called Academic Language Therapy), is multisensory reading, writing, and spelling intervention for students with dyslexia and specific learning disabilities. Based on the science of reading and research on neuroplasticity (the brain can be strategically rewired to function more efficiently), it provides systematic, cumulative, and diagnostic teaching to correct the inefficient writing and reading behaviors of a person with dyslexia and replace these with correct, efficient procedures for reading, writing, and spelling.
IS THIS TUTORING?
Reading therapy is not informal tutoring. It is a highly specialized reading intervention for individuals with dyslexia or SpLD delivered 1-to-1 by a qualified, certified professional. It often represents a greater financial and time commitment. For this reason, it is not appropriate for everyone. If a student experiences only very mild reading and writing difficulties, tutoring may better serve their needs. If a student has a formal dyslexia diagnosis and experiences moderate to severe reading challenges, Academic Language Therapy is appropriate.
HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST?
Cost depends on an individual student's needs and number of weekly sessions, and can be determined after a consultation with you to go over these. Reading therapy tends to be more expensive than conventional tutoring because it requires greater preparation, qualification, and care. One session may require 1-2 hours of instructional planning, data analysis, consulting with stakeholders, materials preparation, and report writing.
WHY DO SOME STUDENTS REQUIRE SESSIONS THREE TIMES PER WEEK?
The dyslexic brain thrives on routine, consistency, and repetition. At least three weekly sessions of an hour's duration are necessary to help moderate to severe dyslexic students make meaningful reading and writing progress.
WHERE DO YOU HOLD SESSIONS?
Students learn best when they are in their preferred environment. For this reason, I offer reading therapy in a student's own home and online reading therapy (when appropriate) depending on a student's diagnosis, personality, and preference. A combination of in-person and online sessions may also be appropriate for a student.
The program is appropriate for all ages, including adults, with dyslexia and specific language disorders. It is also often appropriate for individuals with cooccuring diagnoses, including ADD and ADHD.
WHAT AGES DOES THIS BENEFIT?
...because it may not be me! When choosing a reading therapist, make sure to look for: 1. relevant experience, 2. a professional qualification in remediating dyslexia that requires a formal practicum (usually 700 clinical hours), coursework (usually 200 hours), and formal observations. 3. Associate membership or higher in a dyslexia reading therapist credentialing organization. The acronyms can be confusing, so I have outlined several of the most highly reputed below:
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Titles to look for:
CALT (Certified Academic Language Therapist) and CALT-QI
Specialist Teacher Practitioner SpLD or Specialist Teacher - Assessor SpLD
Certified Dyslexia Therapist or Certified Dyslexia Specialist Teacher
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Credentialing and Training Organizations:
Academic Language Therapy Association
Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators
International Dyslexia Association
The Dyslexia Guild
Wilson Language Training
PATOSS
British Dyslexia Association
IMSLEC (International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council)
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