Dyslexia Screening and Evaluation
Meghan Baulch M.S. CCC-SLP has the following qualifications to evaluate and treat students identified with Dyslexia.
A NC Licensed, and ASHA certified Speech Language Pathologist with specific training through the Scottish Rite Foundation for evaluation and treatment of Dyslexia.
Experience in working with school aged populations of students to differentiate specific learning disabilities, identify language based disorders, and differentiate dysphonetic and dyseidetic dyslexia.
Experience with use of Lindamood-Bell LIPS phoneme sequencing program, training in Seeing Stars and Sounds in Syllables, Visualizing and Verbalizing, Multi-Sensory language approaches, orthographic spelling pattern, math and reading comprehension training.
Todd Baulch M.A. has the following qualifications to treat students identified with Dyslexia.
A NC licensed teacher and administrator, with 20 years experience working with elementary school aged populations, is able to identify struggling readers, differentiate specific learning abilities in the area of Reading, and identify dysphonetic and dyseidetic dyslexia through review of Reading and Dyslexia Evaluation results.
Completed Lindamood-Bell, Seeing Stars, Multi-Sensory language approaches, orthographic spelling pattern, dyscalculia (math) and reading comprehension training.
Dyslexia Screening - An informal, non-standardized observation of your child's reading and spelling skills during a 30 min session with a Dyslexia Therapist, review of the completed parental background questionnaire and a review of academic work samples provided. Information from the free screening will be used to determine if an evaluation in academic areas and/or dyslexia is recommended. It is ideal for the parent to provide a vision screening/evaluation, previous occupational therapy or vision therapy documentation (when oculomotor or vision deficits have previously been identified), previous hearing screening if available. The International Dyslexia association recommends ruling out if any of these factors could be contributing to the child's reading/spelling difficulties.
Dyslexia Evaluation - The Speech language Pathologist will administer a variety of standardized Oral Language, Written Language, Reading, and Spelling Tests, that are recognized by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) and American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), to identify strengths and weaknesses in Reading, Spelling and Language skills during a 60 -90 minute session. Dyslexia is identified as a Language based disorder in the understanding, use and recall of phonetic or non phonetic (sight word) words. The terms dysphonetic and dyseidetic are words used to describe types of dyslexia. Dysphonetic dyslexia, also called auditory dyslexia, refers to a difficulty connecting sounds to symbols. The child might have a hard time sounding out words, and spelling mistakes would show a very poor grasp of phonics. Dyseidetic dyslexia, refers to the difficulty recalling sight words or non-phonetic rules. Mixed Dyslexia, includes a weakness in both phonetic and nonphonetic recall areas.
We do not strive to just identify children as Dyslexic, when they are struggling in this area. We ideally identify the types and exact spelling patterns your child is struggling with, so that we my then provide therapeutic intervention that is appropriate. If we determine based on review of your child's vision or oculomotor history, that a referral to an optometrist, developmental ophthalmologist, vision therapist, or occupational therapist would benefit your child, we will include this in our recommendations.
We will empower you to help your child also!
We will teach you as parents, word manipulation and word recall exercises to complete with your child between sessions. We will also teach you the foundation for assisting your child in creating visual imagery, during reading tasks, which will improve their recall and comprehension skills. We are able to provide weekly progress updates, to assure interventions are contributing to the individualized goals for your child. We strive to build confidence and enthusiasm as your child learns in a motivating and supportive environment. We pair fun activities, motor skills and sensory activities to our lessons, to engage your child. This is not a route learning or drill based curriculum. We empower your child to learn through the multi-sensory language approach which has research based, proven outcomes.
Click the links below for more information on the SLP's role in Evaluation and treatment of Dyslexia