What can I do to help my child Learn to Read?

Q: My child is in 3rd grade and still is not reading. He knows his alphabet and some words but can barely sound out new words and doesn't remember them even when we just read them. He is very smart but getting very frustrated. The school says he is Dyslexic, now what? What can I do to help my child learn to read?A:The label Dyslexia describes a set of conditions and "symptoms." It is not a treatment modality. There are many programs addressing dyslexia, ranging  from tutoring to teaching compensatory techniques to neurofeedback. It is understandable that you are confused as to what to do to help your son. You are also smart to describe the specific issues he has since reading problems are not all the same.Reading involves many neurodevelopmental systems. The visual system itself has several aspects to it. Binocular vision, clear and consistent visual  functioning, the ability to smoothly track the words on the page are just a few of the pieces that are important. Muscle tone is a strong factor in tracking, so it must be working efficiently as well. The brain needs to be able to get a picture of the the letters and words as well as their order and translate all that to a cohesive word, with meaning, and be able to retain and retrieve it. If any of these systems is working inefficiently it can throw off the whole process. The reality is that most of the time many of these systems are not working in an organized manner either individually or in connection with the other systems. The result is frustration and inconsistent reading.The value of organizing the systems so they can properly and efficiently process the information they receive is that once the body - brain connection is organized and integrated, processing happens naturally. Reading happens because it can. Compensatory measures are not necessary or only minimally so, and the learning process proceeds with greater and greater ease.Determining which neurological systems are weak and causing reading (or other) difficulties and how your child needs to strengthen them can be done gently through a HANDLE assessment and treatment program. Your HANDLE practitioner will determine the underlying causes of your son's reading difficulties and designing a HANDLE program just for him.