DYSLEXIA TUTORING VS. DYSLEXIA THERAPY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS
What is the difference between dyslexia therapy and dyslexia tutoring? Houston Dyslexia LLC explains the differences between dyslexia therapy and dyslexia tutoring.
What is dyslexia tutoring? Houston Dyslexia LLC explains dyslexia tutoring.
Dyslexia tutoring can entail many different things. It is typically offered with less frequency, intensity, fidelity, and duration than dyslexia therapy by individuals who are not fully trained and certified by IMSLEC (International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council) accredited programs. Dyslexia tutoring can be performed by a classroom teacher or parent rather than a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT), Licensed Dyslexia Therapist (LDT), or Reading Therapist. An individual or entity may take one course or a few courses and advertise as offering Structured Literacy Orton-Gillingham, Neuhaus, Barton, Wilson, etc. However, this does not mean the individual or entity is Orton-Gillingham, Neuhaus, Barton, or Wilson-trained and certified by ALTA. These are important distinctions because the methodology and training of a dyslexia tutor are not the same as that of someone who is a fully trained individual who has undergone rigorous training, clinical hours, and more of a CALT, LDT, or Reading Therapist. Additionally, someone who is not a CALT, LDT, or Reading Therapist does not provide the instruction and methodologies needed to form new, proper neural connections to Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area of the brain, which is explained below. While dyslexia tutoring can help some, it does not provide the remediation or comprehensive methodology, programs, and skills of a CALT, LDT, or Reading Therapist. Dyslexia tutoring can be a good option for some to review learned concepts after they have received dyslexia therapy from a qualified individual. However, dyslexia therapy is needed to remediate dyslexic learners. It is of paramount importance that individuals receive dyslexia therapy prior to dyslexia tutoring.
What is dyslexia therapy? Houston Dyslexia LLC explains dyslexia therapy.
Dyslexia therapy may only be rendered by individuals who have undergone rigorous training, exams, and proper certification. Since dyslexic learners do not readily access the language center of the brain like non-dyslexic learners, providers of dyslexia therapy are literally working with a student to form new neural connections for learners to access the language center of the brain, hence the term dyslexia therapy. A CALT, LDT, or Reading Therapist must undergo a minimum of 200 hours of masters-level classes from an IMSLEC (International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council) accredited training program. Additionally, 700 clinical hours, ten hours of supervised demonstration lessons, a case study, practicums, and more are needed. Dyslexia Therapy provides science-based Structured Literacy. Finally, an individual must receive certification from ALTA (The Academic Language Therapy Association) after taking and passing a scrupulous exam. Moreover, continuing education hours are required to maintain certifications, which is one way CALTs, LDTs, and Reading Therapists stay abreast of the latest research and more ways to serve their students. CALTS, LDTs, and Reading Therapists are also trained to administer a diagnostic-prescriptive approach, which means we are consistently diagnosing an individual during therapy and prescribing the most effective treatments and methodologies. Dyslexia therapy must be rendered by a properly trained and certified individual, use accredited programs, and be delivered with fidelity, duration, and intensity to form new neural connections to the language center of the brain. Individuals with dyslexia are shown to have reduced gray brain matter and cortical thickness in the left hemisphere of the brain, specifically in Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area. Numerous fMRIs (functional MRIs) have proven the reduced activation in the left hemisphere. This is why new neural pathways need to be formed and why dyslexia therapy by appropriate providers is of paramount importance. It is important to note that dyslexia is independent of intelligence. Some of the most successful people in the world have dyslexia! Dyslexia therapy is science-based, with a plethora of peer-reviewed research behind it. It is paramount to understand the differences between dyslexia therapy and dyslexia tutoring so that individuals receive the proper intervention to become the most successful learners possible. It is recommended to vet individuals to ensure they have the proper training and certifications to render sound dyslexia therapy. At Houston Dyslexia LLC, Natalie, CALT, Reading Therapist, offers dyslexia therapy to ensure struggling readers become successful. Natalie at Houston Dyslexia LLC hopes that more individuals become knowledgeable about the differences between dyslexia tutoring and dyslexia therapy so that proper intervention is received!
