Dyslexia Discovery

You have come upon a blog discussing tools to help dyslexics and hyperlexics.  The topic, this time, is emotion.

When I was first diagnosed as dyslexic (ag 45) I was told there were no solutions to help me. The reason: I could sound out works, read words and had a good vocabulary – the usual definition of a dyslexic. Yet, the test pigeonholed me as a dyslexic.

What to do?  I kept asking and two years later I was given two invaluable pieces of advice:

1.   Give up  eating foods with refined sugar.  The reason:  stop the inner rushing in my body.  I followed the advice and a year later the rushing stopped almost entirely.  This correction made me ready to move to the second piece of advice.

2.   Work with a therapist to discover within myself emotional issues that were unresolved.   At first I wondered, is this really necessary?  But going off refined sugar had improved my ability to be quiet within and more willing to pick up a book.  So, perhaps clearing pesky emotions was worth exploring.

My therapist was brilliant.  Her intuition told her I was masking anger.  It took me some time to find it, but find it I did.  As I released my hold to past anger I discovered many things about reading:

• my buried disruptive emotions stopped me from wanting to read and reading
• when reading a book with characters who had emotional issues that resonated with me, I would not continue reading the book.  When I discovered this behavior I taught myself to stop reading. I defined  where the emotion being expressed in the book was existent in my life and then processed it.  By processing, I mean delving into the issue, seeing where I was the victim or the perpertrator and then discovering how to forgive myself and others. The change doesn’t happen quickly but eventually positive results emerge. When done, I went back to the book and continued reading until another emotion stopped me.  It took me about a year using this discipline to move out of this ”stopping reading behavior” caused by buried emotions that needed attention.

What I now understand is that my feelings were hidden, or not accepted as real by me or others.  They were churning about within, an explosive energy. No longer were they simply a feeling.

My technique as a child and adult was to bury my dark feelings.  Feelings left unexpressed build up.  They took up space inside me. They tried to get my attention by “preventing” me from being able and/or willing to read. I didn’t realize they wanted attention.  I can see now that my emotions are my reactions to my feelings I was chosing to avoid.

Years later I was re-diagnosed as hyperlexic:  meaning I could read words fine, but comprehension was the problem. If I hadn’t done the emotional homework I know that my work of correcting the hyperlexia would have been much more difficult, if not impossible.

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If you have topics that you would like me to address about my experience in overcoming dyslexia and hyperlexia feel free to send your ideas through the comments below.

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Information on this blog is intended to complement, not replace, the advice of your own physician or health care professional

Welcome.

You have come upon a blog discussing tools to help dyslexics and hyperlexics.  I have both conditions.  This blog provides a list of books on dyslexia or hyperlexia.  I am continually adding names to this list as I find them on-line. So, do revisit this list. I indicate in the description of each book if I have read them. If not, I am including them on this list because they sound interesting or have supportive comments from readers/other sources. Hope this information is helpful to you.

Integration of Infant Dynamic and Postural Reflex Patterns: Svetlana Masgutova. This title may sound intimidating.  However, it is worth spending time  with this information.  About four years ago I discovered the work of Svetlana and her associates. Through her we unearthed the fact that some of my reflexes (like crawling on my stomach) were not properly developed when I was in utero or during the first three years of my life.  Svetlana Masgutova’s  Neuro-Sensory-Motor and Reflex Integration Method for Children and Adults increased my ability to both read and comprehend. I strongly recommend that anyone with a dyslexic, hyperlexic, autistic, aspergers child research this approach. Changes occur. And, I recommend that this be one of the first steps to take with a dyslexic/hyperlexic.  I can say that having my reflexes now functioning at full capacity changes much for me in my ability to read and comprehend.

Smart Moves: by Carla Hannaford. I have used many of the approaches that Ms. Hannaford recommends with very positive results. Some of them are:

• Dietary awareness, drink enough water, less sugar intake, etc
• Help the brain to perceive events less stressful by doing physical exercises
• Create a less stressful environment for people with learning difficulties

Brain Gym: Paul E. Dennison (a dyslexic) and Gail E. Dennison. This book outlines in easy to understand form activities for Whole Brain Learning. This approach was very helpful to me in mastering some of my dyslexic characteristics.

Visualizing and Verbalizing: For Language Comprehension and Thinking: Nanci Bell. Ms. Bell is one of the founders of Lindamood Bell. This company has an excellent assessment process to determine dyslexia and hyperlexia as well as programs to improve dyslexic and hyperlexic conditions. I took the Visualizing and Verbalizing course – seven weeks, five days a week, four hours a day and moved my comprehension skills from Grade Three level to Grade Nine.  This outfit is very professional.

Overcoming Dyslexia: by Sally Shaywitz.   This book has been out for sometime and is considered an important resource by most.  Most of the findings are based on research.  I have heard Dr. Shaywitz speak several times. She has followed several dyslexics from a young age to maturity.  Her focus is very scientific.

The Schwab Learning Website,  http://www.schwabfoundation.org, lists six books that a parent, Darla Hatton, thinks is most useful for others suddenly faced with the challenges of dyslexia, be they a parent, teacher or dyslexic.

The Schwab Learning Center offers this list:

Parenting a Struggling Reader: by Susan L. Hall and Louisa C. Moats. Their book explains how school systems work along with practical guidance

Wrightslaw: from Emotions to Advocay: by Pam Wright and Pete Wright.  I haven’t read the book but from experience with my dyslexia and hyperlexia, there is much credence in giving focus to emotional issues as part of the process of handling both conditions towards a positive result.

One Word at a Time: by Linda G. Tessler.   A dyslexic’s story:  She’s a PHD and dyslexic.

Dyslexia Wonders: by Jennifer Smith.  It’s a child’s point of view.

Instructions and Assessment for Struggling Writers: edited by Gary A. Troia. It describes several best practices for teaching writing.

Other sources offers these book on dyslexia:

Dyslexia in the Workplace : Diana Bartlett, Sylvia Moody (Paperback, 2005)

Dyslexia for Dummies:  World of Dyslexia says:  this books indicates how to spot the signs and get the proper treatment. This friendly guide shows parents how to identify the signs of dyslexia, choose among dyslexia treatment options, and find an individualized education program for their child. They’ll also find practical tips on assisting with homework, helping a child build self-esteem, and easing the transition to high school and college.

100 Ideas for Supporting Children with Dyslexia : Per World of Dyslexia: this book provides one hundred excellent techniques to support the learning development of dyslexic children. This handy paperback guide includes lists that range from identifying the needs of individual pupils and their learning styles to developing pupils reading, writing, numeric and communication skills

How to Reach and Teach Children and Teens with Dyslexia: World of Dyslexia says this book is a comprehensive, practical resource giving educators at all levels essential information, techniques, and tools for understanding dyslexia and adapting teaching methods in all subject areas. Over 50 full-page activity sheets that can be photocopied for immediate use and interviews with students and adults who have had personal experience with dyslexia. Organized into twenty sections, information covers everything from ten principles of instruction to teaching reading, handwriting, spelling, writing, math, everyday skills, and even covers the adult with dyslexia.
Patricia Oetter, an OT Therapist, during a lecture at PEN (Parents Education Network in San Francisco) re-iterated several times her concern that boys in our school systems are lacking experiences they need for development.  The reason? It seems the schools learning systems are focused on a girl’s point of view.  As a result the experience of risk is diminished, an important component for young boy’s growth. She recommended three books that are helpful in raising boys:

Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph and Paul Stanish

Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys by Dan Kindlon and  Michael Thompson,

The Trouble with Boys: A Surprising Report Card on Our Sons, Their  Problems at School, and     What Parents and Educators Must Do, by Peg Tyre

Primal Teen by Barbara Strauch  At a recent PEN speaker’s panel this book was highly recommended by a Resource Specialist.

Finally, I am continuing to evolve this site, including incorporating dyslexic and/or hyperlexic information that others have to share.  Yes, I am looking for your ideas.  Send them via the Comments below.

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Information on this blog is intended to complement, not replace, the advice of your own physician or health care professional.

You have come upon a blog discussing tools to help dyslexics and hyperlexics.

Today I read about a recent book, Dyslexia in the Digital Age, which focuses on ways that technology can be helpful to dyslexics,  both children and adults.

Speaking for myself, using a computer/internet etc has been very supportive in giving me freedom to learn new ideas quicker — mostly because I seem to be able to image words faster working on the computer or reading the information on-line.  And, when I can’t image, Google is there. I put in the word that is stumping me and I get a definition.  This enables me to get an image (usually) and then the word makes sense.

This new book, Dyslexia in the Digital Age, is written by Ian Smythe who’s a dyslexia consultant working on specific learning difficulties in different language and cultural environments.  It seems the book is organized in a methodical way and has the potential of being very useful for dyslexics/hyperlexics as well as parents and teacher.  Here’s the table of contents:

1 Definition of Dyslexia
2 Testing
3 Assistive Hardware
4 Assistive Software
5 Literacy Learning Software
6 The User Interface
7 E-learning and Knowledge Assessment
8 Multilingualism
9 Conclusion: Spreading the word
It’s available in hardback only.  Paperback will be out in May, 2010.  I went on Amazon and they are selling the book in the US for $26.32.

Have any of you read this book yet?  Please comment if you have.

For more information relevant to this book, go to:
Ibis Creative Consultants – http://www.ibisconsultants.info
Techo Dys – http://technodys.blogspot.com/

Finally, I will continue to evolve this site, including incorporating dyslexic and/or hyperlexic information that others have to share.  Yes, I am looking for your ideas.  Send them via the Comments below.

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Information on this blog is intended to complement, not replace, the advice of your own physician or health care professional?

You have come upon a blog discussing tools to help dyslexics and hyperlexics.  The topic continues to focus on exercise.

Yes, I know, we are forever hearing how important exercise is: for our physical health, a good disposition, longevity of life and on and on.  And,, those are true, but I have found that daily exercise is also good for dyslexia and hyperlexia.  Why?  Because:

• Exercise is a grounding agent.  After exercising, my left and right brain are ready to work in a more connected way. I don’t space out as much.
• Exercise keeps my eyes healthy and ready for the process of reading
• Exercise gives me the energy and willingness to sit down and read.

Exercises that work for me.

1. Three days a week at the health club: on the bicycle or elliptical for a half hour and then core exercises: crunches, along with exercises that address the muscles in the middle of my torso, then on to arm and leg stretches as well as working with weights.  It sounds arduous. You know, it just isn’t.  I love going and I love the result -– being grounded.
2. And, one day a week I work out with a trainer. He helps me advance my exercise program as my body is ready for more.  One day he gave me an exercise which has another value. It switches on my eyes.  I see things much clearer.  It just happens. Here’s the exercise, you might like to try it.  Stand with your feet parallel and hip width apart, knees softly bent. Image the center and bottom of your pelvis as lifting up to the center of your body. Then visualize the upper sides of my pelvis pushing down into the ground. I shift my whole body on to one foot and I bring one knee up, straighten the leg forward, rotate the leg outward from the hip so that my foot moves outward and then bring it down. After 10 rotations of each leg my eyes are really functioning clearly. Now, that was a surprise.
3. Eye exercises. Over the years I have worked with two eye specialists.  Dr. Roberto Kaplan, Doctor of Optometry, www.beyond2020vision.com and Dr. Larry Jebrock, behavioral optometrist, www.eyeexercises.com. Both have provided me with an eye exercise program that keeps my eyes at 20/20 vision. Strong eyes seem to mean that my eyes are willing to be grounded, ready to assist me in the process of reading and comprehension.
4. Walking and hiking are also a passion. I feel so much better always after being outdoors.  Walking on the ground, keeps me grounded, a very important ingredient for comprehending what I read.
5. Yoga as exercise.  I have also taken years of yoga.  These exercises assist my body in being grounded.
6. Gabriel Roth’s five rhythms. Movement to music reflecting five different feelings: flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical, stillness.  In the San Francisco Bay area you can learn more on http://www.movingcenterschool.com.  I find this class quietly restorative.

Now, I would love to hear what exercise works for you or what your questions are!

Finally, I will continue to evolve this site, including incorporating dyslexic and/or hyperlexic information that others have to share.  Yes, I am looking for your ideas.  Send them via the Comments below.

_______________________________________________________________________

Information on this blog is intended to complement, not replace, the advice of your own physician or health care professional?

Can exercise help the brain?   This was the topic of a recent lecture by John G. Ratey, MD sponsored by PEN.

If you wish to comment on this blog, simply scroll down to the bottom of this blog and hit comment.

First of all let me tell you a little bit about PEN. The acronym stands for Parents Education Network, a coalition of parents collaborating with educators, students and the community to empower and bring academic success to students with learning and attention difficulties.

If you live in the San Francisco Bay area and have children with these challenges, this is a lively group, well worth your time and energy.  Last spring, on the suggestion of one of their students, an all-day event for dyslexics was put together at the Giant’s Ball Park and 1,100 parents, students and others showed up. It was an amazing experience and much was accomplished. Yes, it will happen again, spring, 2010. Find out more at http://www.parentseducationnetwork.org/

Now to John Ratey. Well, all I can say is that I wanted to jump up and cheer, “Yes! yes! yes!”  because what he is promoting (real exercise that’s fun to do) is exactly what helped me.   My mother enrolled me in an exercise program when I was eleven.  I loved it.  My brain cleared and exercise made it easier for me to study.  This is a fun discipline I have continued since that time.

Well, Dr. Ratey and many others are working with school systems in the US to get this concept across. And it’s working.  No, the exercise is not football, nor tennis, etc, its 40 minutes a day doing one or more of aerobics/boot camp/ hip hop/games etc, etc.  They have discovered that play is an important component to academic learning.

Here’s what happening in schools that incorporate fitness-based programs. 

1. Disciplinary issues decrease in some situations up to 30%
2. Kids are keen to come to school
3. Test scores go up, especially in math and language arts.

If you want to learn more go to www.JohnRatey.com. He has many books, but it seems that SPARK, “the new revolutionary science of exercise and the brain,” is the book that has the most details on this approach.

If I were a teacher or a parent, I would hasten to the bookstore to learn more. I know that his approach works. I am both dyslexic and hyperlexic and his approach has worked for me. 

By the way, Dr. Ratey is a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Finally, I will continue to evolve this site, including incorporating dyslexic and/or hyperlexic  information that others have to share.  Yes, I am looking for your ideas.  Send them via the Comments. below.

Welcome!

This blog is focussed on dyslexia and hyperlexia. I have both conditions.

Some blogs will offer tools I have implemented to reduce the discomfort of being dyslexic and/or hyperlexic. I will also report on meetings I attend or other information that I feel might be useful for a dyslexic or hyperlexic.

If you wish to comment on this blog, simply scroll down to the bottom of this blog and hit comment.

My first topic is:

Removing refined sugar from my diet with healthy sugar substitutes.

I feel passionate about this step.  It has made a big difference in my life.

Background

I will be honest. It was not easy to do. In fact, it took about six months. But, removing refined sugar was worth it. The uncomfortable feeling of an inner rushing which ran up my chest and into my head all but disappeared. I thought this inner rushing was naturally me. Not true! And, now, I stay focused longer on reading tasks.

Suggested sugar substitute products:

This list comes from my shopping at Rainbow Grocery, 1745 Folsom St. San Francisco, CA. www.rainbow.coop They offer a wide variety of healthy products. These products can be bought nationwide.

Note: the abbreviation ECJ: refers to Evaporated Cane Juice as the sweetener.

1. Sugar substitutes for cooking and with tea or coffee etc.

• Agave Nectar: comes from a succulent plant www.wildorganics.net
• Brown Rice Syrup: www.lundberg.com
• Pure Maple Syrup
• Rapuzel/Rapadura: unrefined and unbleached cane sugar www.naturalgrocers.com
• Evaporated cane juice: ECJ
• Stevia: a sweet herb www.nowfoods.com
• 100% pure fruit juice

For more information on Natural Sweeteners check out: www.bodyandfitness.com/Information/Fitness/sugar.html

Comments:

• I do not use honey. It is too strong a sweetener
• I make a wonderful pecan pie, using the Joy of Cooking recipe substituting sugar with Brown Rice Syrup or Agave syrup and substituting corn syrup with pure maple syrup. My friends say it’s better than the original recipe.

2. Cereals:

• Nature’s Path; www.naturespath.com These products come in many different packaging types, the most economical is Eco Pacs which are large in content and reasonable in cost. Including:

• Corn Flakes sweetened with organic grape or pear juice

• Mesa Sunrise (flax, corn amaranth combined and are flakes) sweetened with ECJ

• Millet rice (in flakes) sweetened with organic grape or pear juice

• Peanut Butter Panda Puffs – for kids sweetened with ECJ *

• Barbara’s: www.barbarasbakery.com Many different selections
• Arrowhead Mills www.arrowheadmills.com

• Shredded Wheat: Sweetened with ECJ

• Organic Amaranth: Sweetened with fruit juice

• Kashi: www.kashi.com

• Oat Flakes with Wild Blueberry Chips, sweetened with ECJ

• 7 Whole Grain Puffs: no sugar

These are some of my favorite cereals which come in bulk size.

• Sunridge Farm: www.sunridgefarms.com

• Raspberry Muesli: sweetened with ECJ

• Organic Blueberry Muesli: sweetened with ECJ

• Raspberry Granola: sweetened with ECJ

• New England Natural Bakers www.newenglandnaturalbakers.com

• Banana Crunch Granola: sweetened with apple juice concentrate and rice syrup

3. Chocolate:

• Chocolate Chips.

Sunspire offers Grain Sweetened Chocolate Chips in both packages and Bulk. www.sunspire.com

I eat these chocolate chips as a snack. They are not too sweet and satisfy my sweet need. They are delicious in Chocolate Chip Cookies, etc.

• Chocolate Sauce: Ah! Laska Chocolate Syrup www.ahlaska.com

Sweetened with ECJ

• Cocoa: Unsweetened Chocolate sweetened with one of the sugar substitutes listed above

4. Cookies: Here are just a few examples.

• Nature’s Path. www.naturespath.com

• Enviro Kids: Chripsy Rice Bars: Berry, Peanut Butter etc flavors

• Earth’s Best www.earthbest.com (get how sweetened)

• Organic Whole Grain bars in pear, raspberry, cherry, apple

• Michelle’s www.michellesnaturally.com

• Chocolate Chip Cookies: Fruit Juice sweetened

• Annie www.Annies.com

• Bunny Graham cookies – Chocolate sweetened with ECJ

5. Drinks:

Soda: cola, orange, etc. sweetened with Stevia www.zevia.com

Spritzers: Grape, red raspberry etc. 100% fruit sweetened. www.knudsenjuices.com

6. Ice Cream

Ice cream made with milk and sweetened with ECJ

Alden’s Ice Cream: www.aldenicecream.com

Julie’s Organic Ice Cream: www.juliesorganic.com

Ice cream made with soy products and sweetened with brown rice syrup

Soy Delicious: www.turtlemountain.com

7. Jams

All these jams are fruit juice sweetened

Sorrel & Ridge: www.naturalgrocers.com/sorrel_ridge

Crofters: www.crofterorganic.com

Bionature: www.bionaturae.com

8. Yogurt

Brown Cow Yogurt sweetened with ECJ:

www.browncowfarm.com

9. Fruit

Don’t forget fresh fruit. That is the best source of natural sugar.

A future blog will discuss the symptoms I experienced while eliminating refined sugar and some of the steps I took to help myself through the detox period which lasted about six months.

If you have topics that you would like me to address about my experience in overcoming dyslexia and hyperlexia send your comments through this blog.

And, I am planning to continue evolving this site. I want to incorporate dyslexic and/or hyperlexic  information that others have to share.  Yes, I am looking for your ideas.  Send them via the Comments. below.

___________________________________________________________________

Information on this blog is intended to complement, not replace, the advice of your own physician or health care professional.