Multi-sensory approaches such as the Orton-Gillingham Approach and the Association Method address several facets of oral and written language in a structured and interactive and cumulative way. Areas that are addressed include vocabulary, phonological awareness, decoding skills, reading comprehension and spelling as well as effective strategies.
The International Dyslexia Association has produced a downloadable matrix of the multi-sensory structured language programs available. Feel free to DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
The programs included is not exhaustive but does include those that use a tiered approach to learning. What this means is that there are three levels of instruction that would either involve a whole group and would be used as a preventative measure, small groups or more intenstive one-on-one help for those with severe reading deficits.
A simple way to try out multi-sensory approach is to try a text-to-speech software product. Although designed for adults to allow the reading and hearing of a text simultaneously, some children’s books are available electronically as well so you could try this approach. Alternatively, you could imput some text in Word or as a simple text file (for example) to allow you child to practice following the words while listening. An example of such a program is “Voice Reader“.
I am not going to advocate either of these approaches as it is not my place to do so. This is because I believe that each child is different and what will work well for one, may not for another. This is based on some of my own research with adults and children that shows that if a child is reading using different processes to another child it is logical that a ‘blanket’ intervention approach using just one system just can not work effectively. It is also important for a parent to make their own decisions based on their own personal investigations as it will be their child who would be involved in any program.
