Helping Children with Autism – Tips for the Parents

So when you know your child is suffering from Autism, the treatment should begin at home. No parent is prepared for it and can never be. It happens and then there is only one way to tackle it by being proactive in helping children with autism.

A professional knows how to go about it, but the parents too need to prepare themselves while understanding the right technique to do it. 

Here are the tips you need while helping children with autism:

Consistency

It is difficult to remember everything an autistic child learns in school or from a therapist unless practiced over and over again. A consistent environment is the best way to teach your kids. The best way a parent can do this is by keeping in touch with the school and a therapist and what they are being taught at a particular time.

By having different places of learning, a child is able to transfer his learning from one environment to another. A parent’s consistent interaction is also important and so is the manner they deal with while helping children with autism.

Do not let your schedule to go awry

It is seen that a child with a well structured routine performs better. A parent must make a time table and specify time for meals, school, therapy and sleeping. There should be any disruption whatsoever. If you have some events that may disrupt your child’s schedule, you must prepare him in advance.

Acknowledge Good Behavior

Encouragement goes a long way in instilling positive attitude and confidence in children. Praising a child when he completes a task or is able to learn something can go a long way. You can also reward by allowing them to play with their favorite toy or cook something they like. 

A Parting Thought

Helping children with autism is important and parents can play a huge role in it. Play the role diligently.

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How does a child benefit from Orton Gillingham Method?

Orton Gillingham method as we know is one of the oldest and most successful methods used in making dyslexic children read, spell and write better. But apart from this they learn a lot too to succeed in life.

Here are a few benefits a child gets from it:

Self Confidence

Children with dyslexia struggle with low self esteem. Orton Gillingham method of teaching helps them gain the confidence they would need in life. This is important and helps them later in their lives.

Multisensory Teaching

For an overall understanding, it is important to sensitize different parts of the brain. So when a child is exposed with different modalities like visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. This engages them in language and is not limited to learning and remembering words only. Memorizing makes use of just one part of the brain, whereas when different parts are engaged a child understands and learns things more appropriately and remembers them for a longer time.

Executive Functioning

Organization, self awareness, and taking responsibility is what Orton Gillingham method instills in children. You will agree that these are highly essential skills for a child.

The method ensures students are motivated enough to do certain activities every day and simultaneously do their tasks and stay organized. A student marks this on their blue sheet. They pen down to-do things on this sheet. They are allowed to take the sheet home and mark it when the homework is complete. When something remains unfinished, they are held responsible for it.

Repetition

This is important and a key to remembering things. The Orton Gillingham method of tutoring involves work that includes manners that work best for a child to remember things for a long time.

Parting words

Orton Gillingham method has been benefitting many worldwide. Enroll your child today, if you haven’t yet.

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How does a child benefit from Orton Gillingham Method?

Orton Gillingham method as we know is one of the oldest and most successful methods used in making dyslexic children read, spell and write. But apart from this they learn a lot too to succeed in life.

Here are a few benefits a child gets from Orton Gillingham Method:

Self Confidence

Children with dyslexia struggle with low self esteem. Orton Gillingham method of teaching helps them gain the confidence they would need in life. This is important and helps them later in their lives.

Multisensory Teaching

For an overall understanding, it is important to sensitize different parts of the brain. So when a child is exposed with different modalities like visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. This engages them in language and is not limited to learning and remembering words. Memorizing makes use of just one part of the brain whereas when different parts are engaged a child understands and learns things more appropriately and for a long time.

Executive Functioning

Organization, self awareness, and taking responsibility is what Orton Gillingham method instills in children. You will but agree that these are highly essential skills for a child.

The method ensures students are motivated to do such activities every day and simultaneously do their tasks and stay organized. A student marks this on their blue sheet. They pen down to do things on this sheet. They are allowed to take the sheet home and mark it when home work is complete. When something remains unfinished, they are held responsible for it.

Repetition

This is important and a key to remembering things. The Orton Gillingham method of tutoring involves work that includes manners that work best for a child to remember things for a long time.

Parting words

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How does Orton Gillingham Reading Program

Orton Gillingham reading program is one of the finest inventions of the past centuries. Though almost a century old, it holds its relevance even today.

Read below to learn how the Orton Gillinghamreading program helps in teaching children how to read and spell.

G Approach

·        This approach aids in decoding, breaking words into syllables and phonemes. This is what helps in reading a word.

O-G Approach

·        This aids in teaching a child to encode, break words into syllables orally and phonemes in order to spell a word.

·        It helps in building fluency and automaticity to the word level

·        It must be supported to help teach composition or continuous text fluency.

Features of Orton Gillingham Reading Program

Clear

The patterns and rules of decoding and encoding are taught. Non dyslexics can understand this, but not the dyslexics. A teacher must work with the rules and patterns. Not just this, students should be given lessons on the exceptions to these rules and patterns. They should also be educated in non-phonetic words.

Systematic and structured

It is a systematic method, new concepts are taught in the same way. This also implies that the human brain does not have to waste energy to understand a new method as a person gets what he is expecting – the same routine. Henceforth, the shift focus to learning new methods.

It is structured which means the information is laid in an orderly format.

Cumulative and in a sequence

To help a child read and write, it is extremely important to teach one rule at a time. It starts from a simple to complex and so on. Each step is built from the previous one. Hence, it is important to follow the program just like it is presented.

Summing up

Orton Gillingham reading program is multi-sensory. When more senses are used, the retaining power enhances too.

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The History of Orton Gillingham Tutoring

Orton Gillingham tutoring is basically an approach conceived and designed by two people - Samuel T. Orton and Anna Gillingham. It is misinterpreted by many as a program, wherein it is just an approach, which only a well trained and experienced trainer can use effectively with the dyslexic people.

The Use

The Orton Gillingham approach is directed towards helping people who have problem in writing, reading and spelling. These are usually associated with dyslexics.

The main content and the practice that forms the foundation of the Orton Gillingham tutoring approach is taken from two sources – proven knowledge and practice approved and legalized over 70 years.

The second source is the scientific evidence of how humans learn to read and write; how some people find it difficult to read and write; why dyslexia makes attaining literacy skills difficult; and the instructional method well suited for helping such people read and write.

The founders

Orton Gillingham approach is all work of contribution of Samuel T. Orton and Anna Gillingham. Orton was a pathologist and neuropsychiatrist. His work revolved around reading and language processing difficulties. By 1925, he had recognized dyslexia as an educational problem.

Anna Gillingham was a psychologist and educator, had a command over the language. By 1930s, Dr. Orton got instructional techniques published. This became the foundation for the Orton Gillingham tutoring.  

Orton Gillingham Approach is one-on-one teacher-student instructional model often applied in small group instructions. It has been successfully done in the classrooms. Though it was initially designed for students with reading, writing and spelling difficulties, it has been found to be more effective for students in mathematics.

Summing up

Students afflicted with dyslexics are required to hone their language skills and its relation with writing. Orton Gillingham Tutoring is their savior since they need special help; they get it aptly with it.

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How to take care of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Classroom

A student suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder can face multiple problems in the classroom. It is a big challenge for the teacher too. He/she must start with understanding autism and how an autistic child can be helped. Below are a few things that a teacher can apply in the process.

Read carefully:

1.    Allot tasks in a sequence in a specific order.

2.   Use simple, tangible language. Use minimum words to put your point across.

3.   Educate them some social rules or skills. These include social distance and taking turns.

4.   Fewer choices make an autistic child choose things accurately.For instance, if there are balls in three colors, picking up one of the colors would be far easier than to choose from 6 or 7 colored balls for them.

5.   A blank stare means that a child has not understood the instruction. To make it clear, ask the child to repeat your question after you.

6.   Do not use sarcasm. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) do not understand it.

7.   Do not use idioms. This leaves children with ASD confused.

8.   Be clear and specific, if possible. Choices that are open ended would lead them to nowhere.

9.   Always use smaller sentences. Repeat and check to know if the child has understood what you said.

10. Make a clear daily routine.

11. Warn the child when there is a change in routine or activity.

12.Students usually do not understand what finish means. Showing them a picture of what a finished thing or work would look like will help them to do the activity appropriately.

13. Address them individually. Calling them with everyone doesn’t work.

14. A slight change in behavior or manner shows anxiety. Spot it.

15. Use different presentation forms – physical guidance, visual, etc. to help the child when he finds a certain thing difficult.

Summarizing

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder in children. The teacher must possess the knowledge and the required skill to help the child understand, and develop his understanding skills.

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10 Signs that Say, ‘Your children have Auditory Processing Disorder

Before we zero on and say with an affirmation that your children has auditory, let us understand what is it?

Auditory Processing Disorder is

When the central nervous system, CNS, or APD doesn’t function well and thus pave way for a not so healthy relationship between the nervous system and the ears. This condition leaves a child helpless. He cannot understand the language or the sound.

APD or Auditory Processing Disorder causes issues with:

• Understanding a particular language
• Remembering the information
• Processing the conversation

Symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder in Children

Generally, it comes across as a very chaotic condition. So, one must look for the following signs before coming to any conclusion.

• Cannot differentiate words in a noisy environment.
• Cannot follow any directions.
• Problem in making it difficult to separate any sound or speech
• Cannot read or spell
• Cannot comprehend any information within a classroom which other children can easily do.

Well, these symptoms may or may not mean auditory processing disorder for sure. So, do not conclude by reading the symptoms mentioned above that child has an auditory processing disorder. The situation is a little tricky. But these symptoms do throw some light of suspicion. Do not ignore them.

Seek professional help. They are fully qualified and can tell you exactly about its status. A group of professionals involved in the process of APD identification include psychologists, speech language, pathologists, and teachers.

In Conclusion

Well, it’s only half the purpose solved. Now begins the most important part – the APD treatment. Remember, different children respond differently to the treatment. Some are able to overcome it completely; others may not and live with it all their lives. This depends on how bad APD is and how quickly you start taking the professional help.

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Auditory Processing Disorder in Children: Home Care Tips

A child’s primary school is his home and his first teachers are his parents. Henceforth, parents are advised to be on the child’s side to make him have the confidence to face the world.

Home care is extremely important in children with auditory processing disorder. One has to be on a child’s side to ensure he is getting ready. Here is how to go about it.

Have compassion

Love and compassion can fasten healing and instill courage in children with auditory processing disorder. Such children respond slowly. Having the understanding and patience will help him pick up the loose ends.

Make your child face you when you are instructing him

Facing in another direction implies that he is distracted towards something else, probably listening and processing another thing. So make him have his face towards you and listen with his eyes on you. This ascertains that he listens carefully and processes it properly.

 

Short instructions

In children with auditory processing disorder, remembering and understanding long instructions is difficult. So keep them short and precise. Do not ask him to do many things; just one single instruction would be sufficient in his case.

Double check if the child understands

This is vital. You must ensure that he has understood the thing told by you. Do not lose your cool if he hasn’t. Ask him again and see to it that he understands it. This is the way to get things done.

Make a chart

Parents should make a chart of the activities a child has to undergo in the morning. A pictorial representation of the activity is even better to make things work. He will find it easier and work faster.

Summing up

Parents have a key role to play in auditory processing disorder in children. Be on his side to make him win.

LSI - auditory processing disorder

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Can You Spot Dyslexia Symptoms in Adults?

Dyslexia, a learning disability is found in 20 percent of adults and children worldwide. Unfortunately, when it is not diagnosed in a proper manner at an early stage, it then enters the adulthood. Adults are usually unaware of dyslexia symptoms in them and hence never get themselves treated.   

What Does it Do?

In adults, dyslexia affects one’s self-esteem, career and also relationships. It’s a struggle that should not be ignored.

The question arises – how to know whether you have dyslexia or not.

Check out the symptoms below. Some are home related and some work. See if you have them.

Home

Dyslexia symptoms in adults affect their daily life in the following manner:

·         Can’t remember names

·         Can’t pronounce words properly.

·         Spell words wrongly.

·         Avert reading new words or reading completely

·         Getting confused between visually similar words such as “as” and “an”; “can” and “cab”

·         Dependent on others for written correspondence

·         Can’t get along with written directions

·         Can’t remember a particular conversation

·         Turn self conscious when in a group. Start looking for filler/starting/stopping words.

Work

At work dyslexia symptoms affect adults in the following manner:

·         Avert reading in meetings

·         Avert oration

·         Proofreads memos and emails again and again

·         Keeps away from new fonts and handwritings

·         While writing, insert capital letters intentionally

·         Using spell check too often

·         Get distracted easily

·         Feel bored with long documents

·         Doesn’t like time management projects such as events, meetings

·         Look for means to hide mistakes from colleagues/co-workers

·         Avert repetitive forms

Summing Up:

With the various above-mentioned symptoms, spotting dyslexia symptoms in adults is not difficult. You may or may not be having all the above, but even if half of them exists, then do not waste any more  time and get it treated soon.

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Orton Gillingham Tutoring Offers Advanced Treatment

Contrary to the popular belief that dyslexia makes it difficult for the sufferer to read and learn, a new study has put forth something startling only suspected hitherto. 

Here it goes… the scientists earlier focused only on the language part of the brain while studying dyslexia. But John Gabrieli, a professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in his study found out that dyslexia may be due to a broader difference in the brain function than just brain impairment.

The research has led to more conclusions than one. Orton Gillingham tutoring understands the complexities of such patients who find adaptive learning difficult. The result was deducted when an MRI Brain scanning was done on people with dyslexia and without it. 

In a normal person, for any new information a huge amount of neural energy is expended to collect all the data – experience, object, word or voice. But a dyslexic finds it extremely difficult in adapting to this. And hence, he finds it difficult to read and remember anything new coming his way. 

According to John Gabrieli , this can be accredited to the difference in his brain function. It is although disheartening for the dyslexic person, there is nothing to feel let down. 

Orton Gillingham tutoring and other such places for dyslexiatutoring make it possible for them to overcome the problems and though their brain may function differently but they don’t have to live with this forever. 

Orton Gillingham tutoring method incorporates advanced techniques. Remember, dyslexia is just a disorder but should in no way disorient anyone’s lives. Orton Gillingham lesson plans are made keeping their needs in mind.

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