dyslexia: the label tells you what. we find out why.
A dyslexia diagnosis names your child’s struggle with reading and writing. It does not explain it, and it does not have to be permanent. Since 1979, NACD has helped families find the causes behind the label and work on them directly, at home, every day.
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What the diagnosis actually tells you
When a child receives a diagnosis of dyslexia, often parents and teachers feel that this has answered a lot of their questions about the child. He’s dyslexic. She’s dyslexic. So what does that tell us about the child?
Well, it tells us that the child may have some problems reading. It tells us that the child may not pick up information given in class easily. It tells us that the child may write slowly or poorly. Yet, it doesn’t tell us why. And the questions parents actually need answered are still open:
- Why is my child dyslexic?
- Is it permanent?
- Is there any cure or recourse?
Without knowing the cause of a problem, we don’t know how to fix a problem. That is why NACD does not use the term dyslexia, for the simple reason that it does not tell us anything about why. NACD evaluates a child to find the source of their difficulty.
No single cause, so no single solution
There is no single cause of the problems labeled “dyslexia.” Because there is no single cause, there is neither one single solution. These are among the multiple causes the assessment looks for, and your child’s program is built around whichever ones the assessment actually finds.
Auditory processing problems
How your child takes in and holds spoken language affects how sounds map to letters and words.
Visual processing problems
How your child’s brain organizes what the eyes see affects tracking, letter recognition, and reading fluency.
Dominance problems
Mixed or incomplete dominance can scramble the consistency reading and writing depend on.
Visual convergence problems
If your child’s eyes don’t team properly, print itself becomes unstable, and no reading strategy can fix that.
Two tracks at once: fix the causes, catch up academically
Assessing the cause of the problem is the first step NACD takes when parents seek our help. All aspects of your child’s functioning are explored, including vision, auditory processing, visual processing, dominance, fine motor coordination, and language. Then the program runs on two tracks at the same time.
Track one: fix the inefficiencies
Once the assessment is complete, an individualized plan is devised to fix inefficiencies in your child’s function, working on the underlying causes with daily activities you run at home, drawn from a toolbox of more than 1,000 techniques.
Track two: catch up and pass
Meanwhile, an academic instructional strategy is devised to assist your child in catching up with, and even exceeding, current academic standards for children in his or her age bracket. Your child learns more efficiently while the causes of the problem are being eliminated.
Think of it. While fixing the neurological inefficiencies causing the problem, we are also helping your child learn academic material more efficiently. NACD does not teach strategies to cope with the label of dyslexia. NACD teaches parents and educators strategies to solve the problem known as dyslexia. The set of symptoms known as dyslexia need not be permanent.
Every parent’s dream, every child’s right
It is every parent’s dream that his or her child succeed. The heartbreak of watching a child struggle and fail academically is a terrible thing. Seeing doors of opportunity close for your child is a tragedy. This need not happen.
NACD offers answers. Every day we train parents and educators to fix inefficiencies. Is your child’s struggle broader than reading? The learning disabilities page covers the wider picture. Read about how NACD approaches learning disabilities.
Testimonials From NACD Clients
NACD Kids: Mary Beth
Three steps, starting free
Related Articles for Dyslexia
Taking Charge of Your Child’s Education
Our Journey With NACD
Dyslexia: What Is It and What Can You Do About It?
Attention Deficit Disorder: “Sunny”
Attention Deficit Disorder: “Brian”
Learning and Attention Issues – Exploring What Works – DVD
