Multi-Sensory Learning

Over recent years research has consistently demonstrated that the most effective method of teaching dyslexic children is through a structured multi-sensory teaching approach. The technique uses visual, auditory and kinaesthetic inputs which are combined and reinforced in a way that helps children to overcome their learning difficulties.

Conventional teaching techniques only tend to confuse dyslexic children. This is believed to be because of incompatibility problems between different systems in the brain. This causes the senses to fail 'to work together' correctly when processing language. The result can be a complete failure to understand the intricate and often contradictory rules of the English language.

If dyslexic children do not receive the correct type of help they are not generally able to learn automatic responses to letters and words in their written form.  However, by using a technique such as Multi-sensory learning which means the combined use of eyes, ears, voice and hands, the brain receives the same information from all the relevant senses and is forced to process the information in a more whole and correct way.

Multi-sensory learning is a structured approach to teaching which uses reinforcing techniques. This ensures that a child learns the ability to handle a relatively small number of sounds and symbols before progressing through the language, building on what is already known. This helps reduce the fear of failure and ridicule that tends to dominate the learning process of all dyslexic children. However, these negative feelings gradually begin to disappear as children overcome their disability and success becomes more and more frequent.

Parents and teachers are encouraged to build on the automatic responses which are developed through all the activities of multi-sensory learning both at school and at home.  As dyslexic children overcome their learning difficulties they often retain additional skills and abilities which they develop in response to coping with their dyslexia.  These may include unusual creative skills, highly developed visual memories and exceptional abilities in creative and lateral thinking.