Reading Help

Reading Isn’t Always Automatic

Reading is the most demanding intellectual task most of us achieve.

I know that it does not feel that way as you read this. It has become automatic. But you are actually using a surprising array of facilities to be able to convert the shapes on this page into meaning.

So, it is no wonder that it is a struggle to learn for most children. It is also a struggle with a very delayed payback. Most of the things we learn are actually quite fun while we learn them. But reading isn’t normally like that. It is just a drag.

Kids with Learning Issues

Most parents will report reading practice as a tedious or even traumatic experience. As a parent I can remember the frustration simmering within me as my two boys learnt read.

So, for a child with dyslexia or ADHD-type symptoms (or both), reading can be a significant challenge. I suspect some of you may have already experienced that. It will be very difficult to get your child to sit and concentrate on it. Each little failure in the process, each little unfamiliar word that isn’t recognised, will be a trigger for frustration, anger
or even aggression.

This is given added fuel by the sensation of it being an unachievable task. Many children start to get the feeling that they just won’t be able to ever learn to read. It just seems too hard. If you look at a page of Arabic text, you can get a feeling for that sensation. It is daunting.

Reading and ADHD

However, I am teaching children to read every day and ADHD very seldom proves to be a problem with the approach we use.

I did not really understand why until I learnt the nature of ADHD medication. I had always presumed that ADHD medications were a form of suppressant. The reverse is actually true, as you probably know. They are stimulants, very closely related to cocaine.

The reason is that the prefrontal cortex of the children is not conducting the activity of the other regions of cortex. The brain is effectively fractured through lack of coordination. Once the stimulant is introduced the prefrontal cortex raises its game a bit and brings the brain into more focused activity.

This is fascinating really. It indicates that ADHD is potentially related to fatigue and/or a lack
of brain "fitness", amongst other things. Both of those can be treated without medication. It also explains why our approach to reading is not held back, even when children are exhibiting ADHD patterns during other activities.

How Easyread Works

Our system, Easyread, runs on the Internet and works hard on developing a positive emotional state and making reading genuinely fun. We use silly and rude (in a childish way) imagery to bring the whole thing alive, when it is combined with games on the computer.

We are also harsh on lapses of concentration with the learner being dropped back to the beginning of the game after every mistake. At the same time we lay down a path to success that seems (and is) achievable.

We also limit every session to 15 minutes. That is as long as any child should try to concentrate on a new and challenging intellectual activity.

I think this is probably relevant to almost any activity a child, whether with ADHD or not, is undertaking. If it is engaging and fun, while being challenging but doable, progress will be faster and easier than if it is dull, difficult or apparently impossible.

David Morgan is the developer of the Easyread System, a new approach to literacy for children with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. For further information, please look at the website: www.easyreadsystem.com