First a personal observation of the individual in question is extremely helpful. If several indicative factors are present in the observed individual then it should definitely be considered that they may need a private evaluation. These indicative factors are; difficulty with reading and spelling activities despite proven intelligence and capability, the reversing or flipping of letters or numbers by the subject, a consistent poor written work quality despite proven oral language skills, difficulty with math or sequencing, difficulty telling time on a clock with hands, or poor time management skills. If three or more of these indicators are present then further evaluation should be seriously considered.
In a private evaluation there are six basic components to be evaluated by the specialist. First, he will attempt to establish a genetic link through a search of the family histories. Second, they will administer and evaluate a battery of reading tests and exercises. Third, they will test for spelling difficulties in a variety of ways and fashions. Fourth, they will test the subjects comprehension abilities, most likely in both an oral and written fashion to better compare and contrast their strengths and weaknesses. Fifth, they will test for direction confusion, essentially the flipping and reversing of letters by the test subject. Sixth, the math and sequencing skills of the person in question will be put to the test. Again this is likely to be done in both a written and oral fashion to better contrast the subjects strengths and weaknesses. All this is in addition to any other testing required by the specialist to attempt to evaluate this elusive and often mis-diagnosed condition.
School testing is all but a pipe dream, and where testing is required for learning disabilities nine-out-of-ten children with dyslexia are not severely enough effected by their condition to be considered learning impaired by the school systems standards.
In testing for dyslexia it must always be remembered that there is no one test that can provide an absolute diagnosis. However, with an approximate 40 million effected Americans, testing is obviously important and advance warning of the condition is invaluable to both adult and child alike.
Intense circumstances create high amounts of stress, not only for adults, but children also. Whether it is a fire, flood or earthquake, children need to know what to do and how to do it in order to minimize stress and anxiety. Have you heard stories on the news about a child who saves a family by staying calm, calling 911, and following directions? Being prepared to help in an emergency saves lives. What makes it possible for a child in a high stress situation to be ready to help?
Establish and Practice Home Emergency Plans. Everyone in the family needs to be aware of potential disasters and what to do if they occur. Start family emergency planning with a brainstorming session. (Depending on the age of your children you may need to explain that brainstorming is sharing whatever comes to mind. No idea is bad and no one should be laughed at for their contributions.) After brainstorming pull out the most effective ideas and make a family written plan and post it in a public place. Put plans into action by rehearsing drills. After each trial, evaluate performance to make the plan run more smoothly. Planning in such a way allows children to maintain control of their responses and actions, even when emergencies are out of their control. Planning increases their ability to respond calmly in an emergency.
Enroll Youth in Programs. Community youth programs teach important life skills. These programs prepare children by enlarging upon the lessons from home and school. Organizations such as The American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Girls Scouts of U.S.A, and R.A.D. Kids promote emergency preparedness and skills, and often assist families by offering good exercises to do at home.
First Aid Classes. Teach, review, and practice basic first aid with children. Talk about more complicated first aid procedures, even if they are not physically capable of doing them. Although children may not be able to perform procedures such as CPR, clearing a person's airway, or giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, it is beneficial for them to know what it is in case they ever witness it. Traumatic events cause more fear and tension if they are completely new or unfamiliar.
Community Service. Create a sense of belonging, responsibility, and service for your family by participating in city wide clean-ups or other service projects. Involvement teaches children that many hands make light work and that we all need to help each other to get a job done. If there ever is a need for community work during an emergency children will know how to help and work together.
Teach Health and Fitness. Having a strong mind and a healthy body aids a person in a disaster. Being able to react and withstand challenges is an important component of physical readiness. Youth can help with tasks such as sandbagging, shoveling, and cleaning if they have been physically active and living a healthy lifestyle.
Laughter is the Best Medicine. Humor reduces stress and anxiety by releasing feel-good hormones in the brain, promoting positive thinking and emotion. Make humor apart of everyday life. Encourage good jokes and optimism. Practice making tense situations lighter with laughter. Children will be reassured and relaxed during the stress that is associated with emergency if they can have the healthy outlet of laughter.
Being prepared for possible emergencies increases confidence, knowledge and skill in children of all ages. Because emergencies can cause high stress and have a negative impact and effect on people's lives, especially children, it is important to take the necessary steps to prepare them for such situations. Also remember that children react to the emotions of those around them and can sense when there is fear, stress or anxiety. The best way to help a child in an emergency is to be prepared to deal with the situation yourself.
Both James Lofton & Francesca Black are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
James Lofton has sinced written about articles on various topics from The Internet, Pregnancy Problems and Health. Dyslexia has become a common problem and can be easily treated after it has been diagnosed. You can learn more about testing for dyslexia here.. James Lofton's top article generates over 1900 views. Bookmark James Lofton to your Favourites.
Francesca Black has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Home Security and Entertainment Guide. Francesca Black is a prolific writer and has generated a number of educational articles about emergencies. Additional articles can be found at Prepare for Emergency. Francesca Black's top article generates over 165000 views. Bookmark Francesca Black to your Favourites.