Dear Rav Levy, shlit”a
I want to ask the Rav’s advice regarding my son who is already 12 years old but still struggles with reading. We’ve attempted many private lessons, methods and techniques, all of them amounting to a small fortune. Every place promised results, but ultimately, nothing has helped him advance significantly. How can I find a reading institute that will produce the desired results and help my son master the skill of reading?
Hagaon Harav Dovid Levy shlit”a replies: Unfortunately, I believe that many parents can empathize with your question and situation. It’s always easier to cope with challenges, no matter how difficult, when there is a clear answer or method that produces quick, measurable results. Yet the situation that you’re describing, which many, many parents have faced over the years, is not only very painful for you, as parents, and even more so, for your struggling child, but it’s also a harbinger of despair, hopelessness and the feeling that you’re groping endlessly in the dark with no solution in sight. It’s a long, frustrating journey, and that’s without even discussing the time and money that you invest into every new attempt.
These feelings aren’t exclusive to you as the parents and child with reading difficulties, but are shared by parents and children who suffer emotional, social and medical disabilities, to name just a few.
In regard to your specific question, I feel that, often, a single issue or problem can derive from many reasons and factors, which is why the solution you seek may involve a variety of therapies and treatments. Obviously, it’s important to research the professional background and expertise of the reading therapist and ensure that his training and proficiency is tailored to your son’s precise needs. Unfortunately, there are many “experts” and “therapists” out there who are not professionally-trained and whose methods are not established, yet who still advertise outstanding successes in the field. It’s vital to remain alert and avoid wasting time on ineffective therapy.
Before attempting any new specialist or therapist, it’s vital to have your son undergo a professional evaluation by a reading specialist who is fluent in a range of reading disabilities and will be able to pinpoint your son’s difficulty. With the diagnosis in hand, you should consult with educators and consultants who are acquainted with the sector and have experience referring children to reading specialists. Their experience should enable them to determine which method is ideal for your child and refer you to the right specialist.
Simultaneously, it’s important to bear in mind that even the most qualified therapist is not a guarantor of success. As talented and proficient as he or she may be, his or her knowledge, capacities and expertise are not necessarily the right fit for your child. I’m personally acquainted with a well-known therapist in Europe who attracts patients from all over the world. Yet the irony is that many residents of his own city were disappointed with the treatment they received. The reason for this is not only because people tend to disregard those whom they know well, but because those who travel from afar come to seek his services in the one realm in which he is truly the expert, whereas locals are inclined to consult him for a range of problems, whether or not he is the proper address.
At the risk of sounding repetitive, I’ll emphasize again just how vital it is to consult with experts before engaging a new reading specialist to advance your son. The impact can be life-changing, and conversely, the damage and frustration that your son will suffer throughout another course of ineffective therapy is no less significant.
Here at Pele Yoetz, we have a special department that supports children with reading difficulties. Our trained specialists pinpoint the precise area of difficulty and match the child to a therapist who utilizes methods and techniques compatible with his or her issue. Through regular monitoring and diagnostics, we do our utmost to curtail the trial-and-error process and ensure that the child is advancing and succeeding.
I’ll conclude with my heartfelt brachah to you and your son that you discover the method that will bring about the desired results soon and infuses your son with a love of reading, which is a priceless gift for life.
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