You might have heard about Orton-Gillingham programs for dyslexia. These boxed programs have been around for a long time and have been declared the gold standard for dyslexia by psychologists for years; and they work for some children, but definitely not all. The important thing to know as a parent is that the research has changed. Our understanding of how the brain learns to read has evolved. To most effectively work with a dyslexic brain we need to throw out old beliefs and embrace the most recent brain science recommendations.
The traditional approach starts with letters and teaches from print to speech. It says, “Here’s the letter. Now make the sound.” But that’s not how our brains naturally work. Reading specialists need to evolve from this approach. We have done just that at DTS.
Why Speech-to-Print is More Effective
At Dynamic Therapy Specialists, we use a speech-to-print approach. We start with what your child already knows—spoken language. They already know sounds. They already use words. We help them understand how those sounds and words they speak are represented by letters.
It’s like saying: “You know how you say /mmm/? Watch how I write that sound: ‘M.’ Now when you see this letter, you’ll remember that sound.” It feels natural. It makes sense. And research shows it’s more efficient—especially for kids with dyslexia.
We’re not saying traditional approaches are wrong. We’re saying that now we know better- there’s a better match for how the brain actually learns. We want your child to have the most efficient, effective help possible.
Contact us at 225-767-5032 to learn more.