Product Description

FOR EVERYONE WHO STRUGGLES TO READ!
Clear, practical, science-based information and advice for successful results

One in five American children has trouble reading. But they are not stupid or lazy. In Overcoming Dyslexia, Dr. Sally Shaywitz, codirector of the Yale Center for the Study of Learning and Attention and a leader in the new research into how the brain works, offers the latest information about reading problems and proven, practical techniques that, along with hard work and the right help, can enable anyone to overcome them. Here are the tools that parents and teachers need to help the dyslexic child, age by age, grade by grade, step by step.

--What dyslexia is and why some intelligent, gifted people read slowly and painfully
--How to identify dyslexia in preschoolers, schoolchildren, young adults, and adults
--How to find the best school and how to work productively with your child’s teacher
--Exercises to help children use the parts of the brain that control reading
--A 20-minute nightly home program to enhance reading
--The 150 most common problem words–a list that can give your child a head start
--Ways to raise and preserve a child’s self-esteem aqnd reveal his strengths
--Stories of successful men and women who are dyslexic

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2004 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-04
• Released on: 2005-01-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Yale neuroscientist Shaywitz demystifies the roots of dyslexia (a neurologically based reading difficulty affecting one in five children) and offers parents and educators hope that children with reading problems can be helped. Shaywitz delves deeply into how dyslexia occurs, explaining that magnetic resonance imaging has helped scientists trace the disability to a weakness in the language system at the phonological level. According to Shaywitz, science now has clear evidence that the brain of the dyslexic reader is activated in a different area than that of the nonimpaired reader. Interestingly, the dyslexic reader may be strong in reasoning, problem solving and critical thinking, but invariably lacks phonemic awareness-the ability to break words apart into distinct sounds-which is critical in order to crack the reading code. The good news, Shaywitz claims, is that with the use of effective training programs, the brain can be rewired and dyslexic children can learn to read. She walks parents through ways to help children develop phonemic awareness, become fluent readers, and exercise the area of the brain essential for reading success. Early diagnosis and effective treatment, the author claims, are of utmost importance, although even older readers can learn to read skillfully with proper intervention. Shaywitz's groundbreaking work builds an important bridge from the laboratory to the home and classroom. 34 line drawings and graphs
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Dyslexia explained and treated by the codirector of the Yale Center for the Study of Learning.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Shaywitz, a neuroscientist and Yale pediatrics professor, offers scientific and human perspectives on a reading problem that troubles one in every five American children. Drawing on scientific research and her own case histories, Shaywitz explains what causes dyslexia, how to identify it, and how to help children and adults overcome it. In highly accessible language, Shaywitz explains recent technology and research that pinpoint areas of the brain that control the ability to read. In part 1, she explores the early history of diagnosing reading problems, biases that have crept into the evaluations of reading disabilities, and how dyslexic children are treated in schools. Part 2 explores new theories on identifying and treating dyslexia. Part 3 offers practical advice and exercises to help children become better readers year by year, and part 4 focuses on overcoming the disability. The epilogue includes commentary from dyslexic readers who've become quite successful, including John Irving, Charles Schwab, and Wendy Wasserstein. Parents and teachers will appreciate this tremendously helpful resource. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

amazing book, very comphrensive, a must read for parents and friends
I really needed a good explanation of dyslexia after my daughter was diagnosed with it. I was told of this book by the school reading specialist. Every chapter of the book was eye-opening and helped bring my child's plight into better focus. I now feel so much more informed and better prepared to help my little girl.

I feel empowered to help her and have the insight to know why she reads the way she does. Her reading has improved simply because the quality of my home instruction has improved. I had been hindering her with my improper teaching methods!
Thank you Dr Shaywitz for your brilliant insight and your pioneering research.

Best described by its title
Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level

This was recommended to me by several local and state experts as the best single source on the subject, and I have not been disappointed. Parts I and II provide a clear, suscinct overview of the condition, Parts III and IV deal with teaching reading to dyslexics. The Epilogue describes the experience of several very well known and very successful dyslexics. It is not a curse, just a somewhat different operating system.

I did not spend much time with Parts III & IV because my personal point of view has been shaped by Susan Barton's Orton-Gillingham derivitive the one that's available here, and while some of the specific techniques vary the overall thrust is right on. In fairness, the author also recommends using one of the preprepared programs rather than inventing your own, because all of them produce satisfactory results. Obviously she has looked at more progrtams than I have.

Very much worthwhile for anyone in education or for anyone with an exceptionally bright family member or friend who has trouble reading and spelling. It will open your eyes. They may be a lot smarter than you are.

REWFM

Fantastic resource for reading problems
I ordered this book after attending a seminar on Dyslexia. My child has not been officially diagnosed, but this book is fantastic. It explains what dyslexia is and also gives information about other reading disabilities, differences and difficulties. It gives you many activities you can do with your child to help improve reading skills and is very practical for addressing the problems your child may be having. I highly recommend this book for anyone who may suspect that your child has a reading disability.