Is there an online reading program for adults with reading difficulties?
Let's Go Learn, I really need your help. I am acquainted with a young man who is in his early 40s. He is a very successful businessman. One problem, he cannot read. people who work closely with him know this. i do not believe his employees are aware of this. I would like to know if there is such a program that can help him with his reading and math. even just his reading. one thing is that it has to be on computer. he has one in his office. is there a program that is voice activated? I really would like to help this man progress and at least be able to read some of his correspondence and financial reports? thanking you in advance for all of your help.
Hello, Thanks for your email. I have worked with a lot of adults with reading issues. One thing to remember is that it is never too late. I have worked with senior citizens. A person who has gone that long with out learning to read most likely has a weakness in what is called phonemic awareness. Phonemic awareness is the ability to distinguish sounds within words, this processing ability is vital in reading development. People with this processing weakness have a hard time learning how to sound out words as a child, this makes beginning reading very very difficult. The first step to reading improvement is assessment. Even if he can't read at all, he probably has strengths and weaknesses in reading processes, these need to be measured to create a way to increase his reading abilities. Let's Go Learn, Inc. offers a full reading assessment on line. If he decides he wants to pursue assessment and would rather have an assessment in person, look for someone in your area who specializes in reading assessment and instruction. Make sure any assessment you choose measures all parts of reading; sounding-out words, memorizing words, spelling, reading in context and vocabulary. Let's Go Learn also has on-line instruction that might offer him a dignified way to work on his reading. However, a student with extremely poor phonemic awareness may wish to boost his phonemic awareness before tackling a self-taught program. As far as voice recognition software, it is still in the beginning stages. The voice recognition software that they sell at most software stores works mediocre at best and it would be very difficult to use that as your only tool for reading instruction. I recommend getting some intensive one-on-one reading intervention and supplementing it with a computer program. I also want to share with you the thing I found most difficult about working with adult students; reading practice. Think of it like this: if you are taking a night course to learn Spanish, and you work at a job with native Spanish speakers, you will have an easy time practicing. If you did not work at a job with native Spanish speakers, you would have a much harder time practicing, it would not be as easy to learn. In my experience teaching young children how to read, they had to practice because reading tasks came up all day, every day in school. This is not true for adults. Adults with reading problems have constructed their entire lives in a manner that avoids reading at all costs. Therefore, building reading practice into their lives, above and beyond instruction, takes a lot of dedication. Don't let him be too embarrassed to get help. Phonemic awareness issues have absolutely nothing to do with intelligence. Without a doubt, some of the smartest people I have ever met have phonemic awareness weakness. I wish you luck and remember to remind your friend over and over that it is not too late. He can learn to read.
Tags: online reading program, adults with reading difficulties
Comments (2)
I need to teach a young woman to read. She is too shy to go to a mixed class. So one on one would be best for her.
The first thing I would recommend is an assessment to determine exactly her areas of strength and weakness. An assessment like DORA would help target areas for focus in a one-on-one environment, and provide instructional suggestions to get you started. Good luck!!