09 Jul Navigating Phonological Dyslexia
Brooklyn Letters
1139 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn
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We would highly recommend Ally! Our son always asks about her, so very thankful to Brooklyn Letters for introducing us.
~ Emily, mom of Brooklyn 2 year old -
Nicole has been an amazing therapist!! She played a tremendous role in our daughter’s speech progress and overall development. She has come such a long way and we are so happy with the therapy she received!
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I cannot express how grateful and rewarding my experience with Brooklyn Letters has been. Her tutor Ms. Daria is so knowledgeable, amazing, kind and awesome. My daughter has made so much progress in Literacy and Math and it's all … More thanks to Ms. Daria. I know my daughter is sad that she can no longer work with Ms. Daria, as she looked forward to their sessions every week. Thank you again!
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Excellent services, caring therapists.
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Christina was absolutely wonderful. She went out of her way to win my son over and it worked. He looked forward to her visits and his speech improved so much under her care. She was super flexible and it’s clear she truly cares. We adore … More Christina and we’re going to miss her. Almost sad he improved so much! She’s simply amazing and we can’t say enough how great she is. I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone, without hesitation. Thank you so much for connecting us with her!
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We could not be happier with the services Valerie provided! She is very thoughtful and knowledgeable and provided significant guidance to support our daughter's speech development outside of our scheduled sessions. She established … More a great working relationship with her, and she will definitely be missed! Your business model is amazing and it was an absolute pleasure working with Valerie. I've referred your organization and Valerie to the Executive Director of our daughter's school and friends/colleagues who are in need of speech therapy services.
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We cannot say enough good things about Effie, the ASL teacher, who was so engaged and effective with our 2 year old daughter from the very first session! Effie gladly included our whole family in the sessions! Her expertise and fantastic … More personality gave our daughter a way to communicate that she was so desperately seeking. The coordinators at Brooklyn Letters were so helpful and communicative…I would highly recommend their services!
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The company is great with outstanding customer service. They keep my horses protected. I have recommended them to other horses trainers as well that are going to get service early next year. Very professional an honest too. Respectfully … More submitted Christopher
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Ron and Ken did a fantastic job with our security system today. Installed everything very quick. Both of them were very polite and asked us throughout if the installation met our needs. Simply fantastic!
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I called Cornerstone Protection to get a Security system at a relatives out of state property, within a week it was installed! The installers worked with the client to help understand her new system and she was happy! Our relative said … More they were courteous, professional and patient! I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection for all of your security needs!
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Had blink cameras; Car was broken into multiple times so I called CornerStone & they were able to install multiple cameras very quickly & for a reasonable price. I am so happy with the app & getting alerts that are not superfluous, … More like they were with Blink. Highly recommend CornerStone & the tech Ronnie.
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Ron and Ken are great guys to work with.
Both were very knowledgeable and got our system back up and running.
Thanks to both for a job well done... -
Samantha Dalmas was fantastic! We saw her for a feeding therapy evaluation and while she doesn’t think my daughter needs more feeding therapy sessions at this time, but she gave me lots of tips to try. If my daughter's doctors want … More to see more progress at her next appointment, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha again.
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Amazing assistance provided by Shannon today on my security system. I’m so grateful for your prompt, efficient, professional, and courteous service. Put me down as a customer for life!
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One of the most painless experiences I've had. They came on time and was over the moon professional with still keeping a level of personability to it. The gentleman also went out of his way to say that my husband and Mines business … More was appreciated. Which is actually rare to be appreciated by such a great company. So thank you and we look forward to continuing services with this company.
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I am so happy we decided to go with cornerstone. They were quick and efficient. Shannon and the installer we very friendly. We got a lot of equipment and it was still within our budget. 10/10 would definitely recommend! Thank you
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Love the customer service and Shanon and his team go above and beyond for my restaurant. Couldn't of asked for a better security system and level of service that his team provides.
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I have been using Cornerstone Protection service for over 5 years and I'm really happy with the service and state-of-the-art equipments and it's futures are so much in advance and friendly, I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection … More Service any and all business that need a security protection days and nights specially after business hours(Cornerstone Protection is perfect solution for your business). Owner of Cornerstone Protection is proactive with their customers and their equipments. Good experienced with Cornerstone Protection!!!
Kanu Patel -
We had a very positive experience with Alissa as a tutor for our pod of 5th grade boys from January - June 2020. She cared a lot about the boys and worked hard to create meaningful activities for them. The pod experience was invaluable … More for all of our families during a difficult year and we were so grateful to have found this partnership! We also want to appreciate Craig for helping to match us with a tutor on very short notice after we had cycled through a few folks who were not able to see the commitment through. Thanks for sticking with us!
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Dusty was the exact person we needed to help our child finish out the school year. So grateful to him for the way he steadily encouraged her and helped her stay on track and organized. He is flexible, responsive to our needs/schedule as … More a family, and a delight to be with. We are also thankful that Craig at Themba Tutors really "gets it" and partnered us with such a wonderful tutor who was a great fit for our girl.
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My child worked with Gillian D virtually for math enrichment. She is an excellent teacher. She took time to understand my child's specific learning style and provided tools that would be engaging. She was kind and empathetic- really … More made it her goal to connect with my child and build trust and rapport. My child started the school year with confidence and without the typically "brain-drain" that occurs over the summer, thanks to Gillian.
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I am going into my second year as a Themba tutor. I have met so many great individuals while working for this company. Craig and the rest of the Themba team do such an excellent job picking and choosing Themba tutors that suit each client's … More individual needs! I look forward to meeting new tutors and clients in the 2021-2022 school year!
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Our son started in a new high school, 100% remote, and was really struggling with Latin and Physics. I found Themba Tudors online and had an initial call with Craig, who was very knowledgeable, responsive, and found 2 amazing tutors for … More us. Both the Latin and the physics tutors were fantastic, connected with my son really well and helped him go from 'failing' grade to 'honors'! I will for sure continue using (and recommending!) Themba Tutors. Thank you, C, K, and W!
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Brian is a fantastic executive functioning coach. Super helpful, flexible with hours, and tailored the experience to our needs.
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Giulia Mercuri is a great Italian tutor! She was very responsive and accessible. Giulia put a ton of effort into preparing for each session and really helped our son with test preparation and projects. We are grateful that she was able … More to help, especially since our son did not receive any live teaching during COVID. We are happy that she was referred to us!
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As an adult student diagnosed with a learning disability during grad school, I knew I needed help dealing with my Master's program's demanding workload. I was seriously considering dropping out when I was referred to Themba Tutors. … More I was paired up with a wonderful tutor, Julie, who was a total lifesaver. I learned many techniques that I can utilize in the future as I embark on the next phase of my career.
I can wholeheartedly say after working with Themba for two years that I would not have finished my program without this organization. And I am so thankful I selected them. -
We were introduced to a wonderful tutor: Mcedwyn. He and our son, a freshman in college, worked well together. As a result, our son’s grades significantly improved. The tutor taught our son subject content and various methods to effectively … More study for quizzes and exams. Our son was also taught time management and organization. My son’s experience with the tutor made the first year of college a less intimidating experience.
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We have been with our tutor, Cailin Schiller, for two years, from 5th - 7th grade. She started as an executive functioning tutor with my daughter. From the start, she demonstrated a depth of expertise and a selective use of techniques skillfully … More adapted to my daughter’s ADHD and Math disability. Cailin made Math accessible and understandable to her in a way that even her teachers had not been able to do. She differentiated reading, writing and math tasks and assignments to tailor them to my daughter’s unique learning differences. Not only did it have an effect on her grades and her work efficiency, but she finally could do her work with less anxiety. Even my daughter’s teachers used Cailin’s guidance to modify their work with her. But most importantly, she became my daughter’s favorite resource. I can’t say how invaluable Cailin has been to my daughter’s progress and well-being. I’d recommend her a million times over. She is a gem.
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Victoria is a superb tutor. She helped my high school age daughter with her writing. Victoria's skills as a tutor, as well as her sense of humor and her engaging personality went a long way with my daughter.
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Themba Tutors provided a leaning specialist that was a perfect fit for my daughter. I told them what we were looking for and they delivered. Our tutor is responsive and flexible and makes it easy for my daughter to reach out to her own … More her own, which gives her an added sense of responsibility over her learning. As a therapist myself, I now regularly recommend Themba to my patients. A much needed and well provided service to the community!!
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The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended.
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We had a wonderful experience with our tutor Micaela. She helped our son not only academically but at every level. We will be forever grateful to have her in our lives.
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The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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Paul Smith at Themba has been an exceptional tutor for my son, both in terms of teaching the subject matter and teaching how best to approach the process of learning math and executing assignments. We feel very fortunate to be working with … More Paul.
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We were very lucky to have found Edwouine Swift, my son's therapist through Themba Tutors. Thomas is 12 years old, and it is extremely difficult to get him to write. Edwouine just works her magic with him, he adores her and is so … More eager to follow her guidance. I have no doubt she will be a positive driving force in his academic future.
When Words Don’t Sound Right:
Navigating Phonological Dyslexia
So you’ve always had trouble with sounds, haven’t you? Words that seem simple to others just don’t click for you. Rhyming is a mystery and speech sounds garbled. Welcome to the world of phonological dyslexia, where your brain has trouble connecting letters and speech sounds. But don’t worry, it’s not a life sentence. With some strategies and accommodations, you can strengthen those connections and become a reading rock star. Keep reading to unlock the secrets of phonological dyslexia and get tips to help navigate this learning difference. Before you know it, you’ll be rhyming with the best of them.
What Is Phonological Dyslexia?
Phonological dyslexia refers to difficulty recognizing the sound-symbol correspondences of words and decoding unfamiliar words. If you have phonological dyslexia, the parts of your brain involved in processing the sounds of language have trouble connecting those sounds to the letters that represent them.
As a result, reading can be slow, effortful, and prone to errors. You may:
- Struggle to sound out new or unfamiliar words
- Have trouble separating words into their component sounds
- Confuse short vowel sounds (like /a/ and /e/) or other similar sounds
- Guess at words based on their shape or context rather than decoding them
- Rely heavily on memorizing sight words and guessing from context instead of phonics
The good news is phonological dyslexia can be managed with effective reading strategies and interventions. Some things that may help include:
- Phonemic awareness training to strengthen your ability to perceive and manipulate word sounds
- Learning phonics rules and patterns to map letters to sounds
- Using reference materials like dictionaries, word lists, and speech-to-text software
- Reading aloud and following along with audiobooks to associate pronunciation and spelling
- Practicing word decoding and recognition through flash cards, word puzzles, and word games
With time and practice, these techniques can become second nature, making reading smoother and more automatic. While phonological dyslexia may persist into adulthood, the right support and strategies can help ensure it does not stand in the way of your ability to read and comprehend.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Phonological Dyslexia
If words and sounds don’t seem to stick in your mind the way they should, you may have phonological dyslexia. Some common signs to look out for include:
- Difficulty rhyming words. Rhyming games and nursery rhymes just don’t click.
- Trouble separating words into smaller sounds. You have a hard time hearing the individual
- phonemes that make up a word.
- Difficulty learning the alphabet and the sounds of letters. The connection between letters
- and speech sounds is challenging to grasp.
Slow, inaccurate reading
Reading is challenging and laborious. You frequently guess at words or skip them altogether. This makes comprehension difficult and frustrating. With practice and the right interventions though, reading can become easier and more accurate over time.
Some other indicators of phonological dyslexia include confusion over similar-sounding words, difficulty pronouncing new or unfamiliar words, and trouble remembering the sequence of sounds in a word. If several of these ring true for you or your child, talking to a speech-language pathologist, reading specialist, or other professional is a good next step.
They can test for phonological dyslexia and determine the best strategies and therapies. With targeted practice and support, people with phonological dyslexia go on to become fluent readers. The key is not to get discouraged but instead find the methods and accommodations that work for your unique needs. You’ve got this! Stay patient and keep at it. Reading may never be your strongest suit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get better and better at it over the years.
Getting a Diagnosis: Testing for Phonological Dyslexia
Getting an official diagnosis of phonological dyslexia typically involves a series of assessments to determine if you have difficulties specifically with the phonological component of reading. A phonological processing assessment will evaluate your ability to detect and manipulate the sounds in words. Some common tests include:
This assessment tests phonological awareness, phonological memory, and rapid naming. It requires repeating words and nonwords, blending sounds together, segmenting words into individual sounds, and quickly naming objects, colors, letters, and numbers. Poor performance on some or all of these subtests indicates challenges with phonological processing.
This oral test measures your ability to detect speech sounds and conceptualize the mouth movements needed to produce them. It requires repeating complex nonwords, raising your awareness of the position and movement of your articulators like lips and tongue. Difficulty with these types of tasks points to a phonological deficit.
Informal Reading Inventories
These teacher-administered assessments evaluate your reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension. Poor decoding of nonsense words and inconsistent reading of similarly spelled words can indicate phonological dyslexia. Your reading fluency and comprehension may also be lower than expected for your age and cognitive abilities.
A diagnosis of phonological dyslexia means your difficulty learning to read stems from trouble detecting and manipulating the sounds within words. The good news is phonological dyslexia is treatable with intensive phonological-based reading intervention and speech therapy. With proper support, individuals with phonological dyslexia can become fluent readers.
If you suspect you or your child may have phonological dyslexia, talk to teachers, doctors, and speech language pathologists. Discuss your concerns, review school performance and work samples, and ask about being evaluated for dyslexia and phonological processing difficulties. The earlier a diagnosis is made, the sooner reading support can begin.
Treatment and Interventions for Phonological Dyslexia
Treatment and interventions for phonological dyslexia aim to strengthen phonological awareness and improve decoding skills. With the right support, people with phonological dyslexia can become fluent readers.
Speech therapy
Working with a speech language pathologist, or SLP, is one of the most effective interventions. An SLP will provide targeted exercises to help strengthen phonological awareness, such as:
- Phoneme isolation: Identifying individual sounds in words. For example, the sounds in “cat” are /c/, /a/, and /t/.
- Phoneme blending: Putting individual sounds together to form a word. For example, blending /c/, /a/, and /t/ to say “cat”.
- Phoneme segmentation: Breaking a word into its individual sounds. For example, segmenting “dog” into /d/, /o/, and /g/.
SLPs may also recommend assistive technology like audiobooks, text-to-speech software, and speech recognition tools.
Reading intervention
For early readers, an effective intervention is guided oral reading, where students read aloud to an educator, parent, or tutor who provides guidance and feedback. Repeated reading of the same passage or book can also help build fluency.
Accommodations
Certain classroom accommodations may be helpful for students with phonological dyslexia:
- Extra time for reading and assignments
- Use of audiobooks and text-to-speech technology
- Note-taking assistance
- Priority seating at the front of the class
- Instructions also provided verbally
With support from speech therapists, educators, parents, and assistive technology, people with phonological dyslexia can strengthen their reading skills and achieve success. The key is finding the combination of interventions and tools that work best for each individual.
Tips for Parents and Educators Supporting Kids With Phonological Dyslexia
As a parent or educator, there are several ways you can support a child with phonological dyslexia. Here are some helpful tips:
Provide extra time
Give the child extra time to complete reading and writing tasks. Their difficulty decoding words and sounds means it will take them longer to read passages or write assignments. Be patient and allow them the time they need.
Focus on comprehension
While phonics and decoding are challenging, focus on helping the child understand what they read. Discuss the meaning of stories and texts. Ask open-ended questions about characters, events and themes to improve comprehension.
Use multi-sensory techniques
Employ multi-sensory techniques like tracing letters while saying the sounds, using magnetic letters, acting out sounds and rhymes. These physical and auditory techniques can help cement the relationships between sounds, letters and words in the child’s mind.
Practice sight words
Work on memorizing common sight words that can’t be sounded out. Flash cards, word walls and games are all useful for practicing sight word recognition. The more sight words a child knows by heart, the more fluent their reading will become.
Provide speech therapy
Speech therapy can help address difficulties with rhyming, blending sounds and identifying word sounds. A speech language pathologist is trained to assess phonological skills and provide targeted therapy to improve a child’s ability to interpret the sounds of language.
Focus on strengths
While supporting their difficulties with reading and spelling, also focus on the child’s strengths. Give them opportunities to pursue their interests and talents to build confidence and self-esteem. With patience and the right support system, children with phonological dyslexia can thrive.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the basics on what it’s like dealing with phonological dyslexia. The good news is that with targeted practice and patience, you can strengthen those phonological skills over time. Don’t get discouraged if it feels like an uphill battle some days. Take it step by step, focus on small wins, and celebrate your progress along the way. You’ve got this! With the right support system and strategies in place, you can overcome the challenges of phonological dyslexia. Keep putting one word in front of the other, trust that your brain will make new connections, and remember that you’re not alone on this journey. There are many resources and communities to help guide you. Stay determined and keep going – you’ve got so much amazingness within you just waiting to be expressed. Keep believing in yourself!
Craig Selinger
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