I’ve been doing a lot of language and literacy assessments lately of elementary-aged children whose testing shows great phonemic awareness abilities (PA) but significantly impaired decoding skills. Many of their parents, well-versed in all the recent conversations on the importance of phonemic awareness raging on social media, have been asking me a variation of the […]
The ABCs of Decoding: Understanding the Basics Read More »
Recently I wrote a post entitled: “What Works for Improving Working Memory?” in which I listed useful resources on the subject. Due to the popularity of that post as well as numerous requests, I decided to write a similar post regarding what works and does not work for improving processing speed in students with language
What Works for Improving Processing Speed? Read More »
Recently I have been seeing an increase in social media posts requesting assistance with working memory interventions. So I decided to compile a post with a few useful resources on this subject. But first a few words regarding working memory basics. Working Memory (WM) is a cognitive system with a limited capacity that can hold
What Works for Improving Working Memory? Read More »
On November 16th, 2022, I did a free outreach webinar hosted jointly by two wonderful literacy organizations: WI Reads as well as Everyone Reads PA on the subject of fostering self-talk and self-motivation in children who struggle with executive functions as well as concomitant language and literacy needs. In this webinar, I discussed the research
Free Webinar: EBP Executive Functions Interventions: Focus on Self-Talk and Motivation Read More »
On September 29th, 2022, I did a free outreach webinar for Georgia IDA, on the subject of effective evidence-based interventions for children with language disorders who struggle with executive functions as well as concomitant literacy needs. In the webinar, I discussed how to provide effective evidence-based practice (EBP) language and literacy interventions aimed at improving
Free Webinar: Evidence Based Executive Functions Interventions for Struggling Learners Read More »
In June 2021, I did an outreach webinar for Georgia IDA, which reviewed current controversies pertaining to the validity of assessment and treatment of auditory processing disorder (APD). Its major focus was on how this diagnostic label frequently results in professionals discounting true language and literacy deficits in students who require appropriate language and literacy
Free Webinar: The Controversy of the Auditory Processing Disorder Diagnosis Read More »
Recently, there has been an uptick of posts and comments from parents and professionals on social media with the following message: “The student tested average on all standardized tests but still struggles with XYZ deficits characterized by (insert language-based difficulties here). So today, I wanted to delve a little deeper into what it means to
Help, Student Tested Average on ALL Standardized Tests but is Still Struggling Read More »
In August 2021, I did an outreach webinar for Georgia IDA which discussed the importance of appropriate language and literacy testing in the remediation of reading-based disabilities. I reviewed current controversies regarding the dyslexia diagnosis, and described the role of language as a contributing factor to reading and writing deficits. But the major focus of
A Reading Program is NOT Enough: A Deep Dive into the Dyslexia Diagnosis Read More »
Last year I administered a comprehensive language and literacy reassessment to a bright 12-year adolescent with persistent reading deficits. When asked to discuss self, he readily offered, ‘I am dyslexic’, when describing some of his self attributes. This took me by surprise a few weeks later, as testing was way underway and I had the
Is “Dyslexia” a Useful Label for Diagnostic and Treatment Purposes? Read More »
“I just don’t understand,” says a parent bewilderingly, “she’s receiving so many different therapies and tutoring every week, but her scores on educational, speech-language, and psychological tests just keep dropping!” I hear a variation of this comment far too frequently in both my private practice as well as an outpatient school in a hospital setting,
Why Are My Child’s Test Scores Dropping? Read More »