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ACADEMIC THERAPY & FAQ
FAQ
The Answers You Need
WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?
“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”
Adopted by the IDA Board of Directors, Nov. 12, 2002. This Definition is also used by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
WHAT IS ACADEMIC THERAPY?
Academic therapy is a medical/therapeutic model based on the principle of neuroplasticity. It provides the foundation for effective, diagnostic reading and spelling instruction for students with moderate to severe dyslexia. Academic therapy includes a strong emphasis on motor-learning, with procedures that engage the auditory, visual, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways simultaneously.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR SOMEONE WITH DYSLEXIA TO BECOME A GOOD READER?
The answer depends on a number of factors, including the student's age, severity of the dyslexia, the presence of co-morbid conditions, cognitive ability, attitude of the student, the number of therapy sessions per week, the comprehensiveness and granularity of the instruction, the skill of the therapist, and the pacing of instruction that prioritizes the student's mastery of skills. In short, there is no easy answer, other than that the less severely involved, the less time it will take; the more severely involved, the more time it will take.