At Reading Horizons we talk to people everyday that struggle with reading. The aspect of their struggle that is most difficult to hear is not the fact that they can’t read, but rather how their struggle affects them on an emotional level. To hear someone say that they have low self-esteem or that they lack intelligence is heart breaking.
It is especially heartbreaking since most of these individuals do not lack intelligence. They may have received poor instruction as a child, or have a unique brain structuring that prevents reading from being a natural process. Most reading problems are the result of reading disabilities (the most common being dyslexia), which are caused by a unique structuring in the brain. Despite the term “disabilities” these individuals are far from disabled. In fact, they typically have above average intelligence. Although the structuring of their brain is different, it is far from inferior. They simply need to be taught in a way that caters to the learning style of their unique brain.
Reading Horizons v5 software can help individuals 10 to adult learn to read in a way that supports their learning style.
Here is a video of Reading Horizons dyslexia specialist who was introduced to our company as she was seeking a solution for her son’s dyslexia:
The new Reading Horizons v5 software offers additional features that benefit dyslexics. Aside from the effectiveness of the method, v5 offers dyslexics the option to change the background color of the screen. Changing the background color of a text has been found to offer dyslexics a substantial increase in their ability to read a text. The new software also offers dyslexics vocabulary building strategies and extensive reading comprehension practice.
To enter to win a FREE 1-year online subscription of Reading Horizons v5 software, respond to the following question in the comment section of this post:
What do you believe is the biggest challenge for dyslexics and individuals with reading disabilities?
(Only real answers will be entered into the drawing. A winner will be selected next Monday (11/1). You can comment on each of the 5 posts to be entered into the drawing 5 times.)
Reading Horizons v5 Software Screenshot
30 Comments
diane
I believe the biggest challenge for dyslexics and individuals with reading disabilities is that their weaknesses are often more apparent than their strengths. Because reading is such a crucial skill and impacts so many other areas of learning it is difficult for these individuals to focus on anything other than their weakness in reading. This is unfortunate since they truly do have so many valuable strengths.
Jeri
Right on. I love the concept of "celebrating dyslexia" because we can focus on strengths.
Judy
I believe that the biggest challenge facing a child with dsylexia is that of attitude. The child can be compared to a baracuda that was places in a tank with goldfish yet there was a glass between the baracuda and the goldfish. Every time the fish would try to eat the goldfish he only bumped against the glass. After many tries he gave up. The glass was then removed and the goldfish swam around him yet he would not try to eat them and eventially he starved to death. This is not unlike the child who tries and tries and finally has the mindset that he cannot read and cannot learn. This attitude is what needs to be prevented.
Angelle
I think the hardest thing is that it is so hard for them to learn. And it is self defeating to see so many kids who reading comes easy to. My daughter struggles with working memory and auditory processing delays.
Shannon
I agree about the child's attitude. With the right tools and encouragement they CAN learn to read, but their attitude helps make it possible.
Kristi B.
I think the biggest challenge is simply living in a world that does not understand dyslexia and other learning disabilities. They hear the struggling reader and they think, "This person must be stupid or lazy.". After a certain age, people expect you to read well and when you don't, they make harsh and unfair judgements.
Nola Hiatt
One challenge for those with learning difficulties is not letting the opinions of others affect their view of themselves & what they are capable of achieving. There is a lot of peer pressure to be perfect at everything. The world thinks everyone should be able to do things just like the norm & when it's not like that they have a tendency to judge & make the person feel bad for being different. It's challenging to not let that affect self-esteem & be a block to progression
Sharon
I agree with both Diane and Judy. So much attention is called to their weaknesses that they begin to lose sight of their strengths. This flows right in to what Judy was mentioning... they begin to simply not see the strengths they have and give in to their apparent failure.
Sandra
V5 for 5 days I agree that the biggest challenge is not to get too focussed on the weaknesses but to see dyslexia as a gift.
Alta
I feel the one of the biggest challenges to overcome for a dyslexic/learning challenged student is how they feel about them selves. They need to have a success so that they will see them selves in a different light. They do not want to be labeled nor do they like feeling they are stupid.Until you can get them past this their learning curve is very narrow.You can tell them over and over how gifted and bright they are in so many other areas,but it always in their mind goes back to their learnig abilities and challenges. Also what comes to mind is that "children do not care how much you know until they know how much you care". I do not know who is the author of this phrase,but it is so true.Too often they are judged on their behavior/depression which is put in place because of how they feel about them selves rather than their strong points.Their behaviors which are a symptom become the focal point of their learning, rather then their learning challenge.
Cherie
I think the biggest challenge I have found is getting the right help in school. The school is trying different coping mechanisms, but non that seem to be working well. I do not want my child to just "get through" school. I want them to be able to learn and excell. I also think that finding the right program at home for a reasonable price is hard. I have found many expensive "tutoring" programs or schools 5 plus hours away that are just not feasable.
T Williams
I've observed one of my students who struggles. His frustration shows all over his face. It's as if he KNOWS the word he just read, but he can't get it out of his mouth. Or when he's spelling. For example, I retested him with some spelling words he missed on a previous test; I had him type the word on the computer screen, and he KNEW the word(s) he typed looked wrong in every way, but he had no idea how to make it right. The neurological disconnect for him was so glaring, it hurt to see him struggle with it. I disagree that it's a problem with attitude or motivation.... these kids who struggle need to know their struggle is neurological; that it's not their fault. And most importantly, they need to know that there is help; brains can be "rewired" - thanks to programs like Reading Horizons....
Alisa
Dyslexic readers need to feel success and be celebrated. No one likes to work hard at something they don't see himself or herself progressing in. Reading Horizons celebrates the reader, no matter the age, gender, or disability. We can all be readers. I love the bios that Reading Horizons did online that highlighted a series of famous people with dyslexia. They always focused on their accomplishments and strengths. There is a lot of power and motivation in those stories.
Joni Huff
I believe the biggest challenage for dyslexic readers is the lack of knowledge about how to help them.
Mark Peters
Trying to read in a non-dyslexic world that teaches reading in a way that is difficult for dyslexic learner. As to learning disabled...it is old style instruction that doesn't give much room for slower learners.
Jen
I sure would Love to Win the 1 year online subscription of Reading Horizons v5 software, What do you believe is the biggest challenge for dyslexics and individuals with reading disabilities? Dyslexics is a Gift not a Disability. With the Right Teaching, Tools and Learning Style children will be able to learn to Read and Write and do anything in Life they want to do.
Suzanne Rock-Stierle
V5 for 5 days! What a great program you have! I feel grateful that you created it for dyslexics and that it is helping so many kids and adults! Suzanne
Margaret Lane
I believe their biggest obstacle is frustration and thinking that they are dumb.
Anjii
I've been reading since I was 2, and it's always been one of my favorite things to do. I have an extensive collection of books in my home, for myself and for my kids, and want to do everything I can to make reading a lifetime enjoyment for them, rather than a frustrating chore. I'd love to try this program!
Kristie Zubko
The biggest challenge for dyslexics is overcoming the stigma of not being smart due to the inability to read.
Sheila Boutwell
When I was learning to read ,I thought I was stupid. After going into education, I was found out I learn a different way than I was taught. This gave me a great desire to teach all students using their own learning style.Reading Horizons' V5 enables students to learn the way that is best for them.
Jackie
I believe the biggest challenge for dyslexics is over coming the labels that people put on them. I know from taking my son to doctor upon doctor that there are so many people in this world that have no idea about dyslexia. I have been there while the schools are trying to push him through the grades and tell me to except the inevitable that he will never learn and that his has a low IQ when I know that he is so smart if they could of just sat down and tried to understand him or try to work with him instead of labeling him mental incapable. These poor children have to many people giving up on them and not wanting to take the time and work with them because it is to much of a challenge. Eventually they themselves give up on them. They just dont understand why they can not be like everyone else or why they are singled out or made fun of or even looked at differently. It is heart breaking.
Teri H.
The biggest challenge my son has is his own attitude. If he becomes frustrated, then he immediately wants to quit whatever he is working on. It is my job to get him to focus on his strengths and continue to work on the weaknesses.
Ronna Baron
This program sounds like it would be helpful for my students with dyslexia
A. Jeffers
I believe the biggest challenge for individuals with reading disabilities is helping them believe in themselves and develop the desire to continue working through their struggles.
Kristin Farlow
From my experience with our son, the biggest challenge is convincing the school and then him to not be labelled. Kids talk and they can be mean. Overcoming the social outcome of being labelled then spirals their self confidence and allows them to give up and even call themselves 'stupid'. It doesn't help when the actual reading teacher calls you that as well!
Sally Andrews
I think the greatest challenge that people with learning difficulties, or Dyslexia, face is overcoming their own perception that they CAN'T read. Often the only way this will happen is if they experience effective intervention which shows them fairly quickly that they CAN. Once this happens, it is possible for the tide to turn.
Connie Costello
The biggest challenge for dyslexics and people with reading challenges is to keep their self esteem strong. These kids beging to fall behind in other subjects too and often feel inadequate. However these kids are smart and in their frustration they begin to seek other ways to attract attention from teachers and parents. Often times their frustration causes them to get attention by doing things that gets them in trouble and they begin to loose their way.
Jennifer Biang
I think the biggest challenge is that our school system does not want to deal with the problem. The teachers are not trained to identify the problem and the schools don't want to provide services to teach the kids that are not natural readers. They teach about 70% of the kids to read with minimal effort so why spend money on that other 30% On their grading system they are getting a C and that's good enough for them.
angie
Jennifer- thanks for your comment! We have a lot of parents calling in with that same frustration... It's always hard to hear that, especially since we know that we have a product that can help schools teach 100% of their students to read, not just 70% off them. We have a free online training that any teacher can use at: http://info.readinghorizons.com/phonics-training-for-savvy-teachers