Common Questions
Question 1 What is the difference between a tutor and an educational therapist? Question 2 Are there any specific signs to a language learning disability? Question 3 How long do clients typically participate in educational therapy? Question 4 How much do educational therapy services cost? Question 5 What is the age range of the clients you serve? Question 6 How do I proceed with further inquiring about educational therapy services? Question 7 What are some credible websites where I can learn more about learning differences? Question 1 Tutoring tends to focus on academic subjects (math, foreign language, reading), without necessarily addressing the cognitive development of the individual. It not necessarily designed for those with learning differences. Educational Therapists offer individuals with learning disabilities and other learning challenges a wide range of intensive, individualized interventions designed to remediate learning problems. A treatment plan is implemented that utilizes information from a variety of sources including the client’s social, emotional, psycho-educational, and neuropsychological context. Through educational therapy, individuals gain an understanding of their learning style while learning strategies to better assert their strengths and manage their areas of challenge. To learn more about educational therapy: AET Online Question 2 The most frequent characteristic of a Specific Language Disability is a significant difference between an individual's achievement and overall intelligence. Specific signs may include: Spoken Language: connecting sounds with letters; understanding oral directions; expressing ideas verbally; mispronouncing words, getting confused (mixed up) with similar sounding words. Written Language: connecting sounds with letters; spelling correctly after much practice; understanding written directions; expressing ideas in writing; writing legibly and copying accurately; comprehending what is read. Reasoning: difficulties in organizing thoughts; telling facts and events in correct order; listening and paying attention; controlling impulses; finishing homework or schoolwork on time; comprehending what is read. Memory: problems in information; learning and remembering printed words; comprehending what is read. Question 3 Sessions are a minimum of twice a week for 50 minutes each. Some clients find that their goals can be met during a year or two, while others need more long-term support. The duration depends on the needs of the client. A client may come back after a couple of years for a refresher or to learn more in-depth skills. Contracts are offered on a month-to-month basis and progress is frequently assessed. Question 4 Fees vary depending on the type and extent of services provided. Although I do not work with insurance companies, some parents have received assistance through their healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). Question 5 Most of the clients range from 2nd grade to 8th grade. However, I have worked with individuals younger and older, and do not hesitate to see if I can assist. Question 6 The educational therapy process begins with your initial phone call and a free phone consultation to discuss your concerns and what goals you may have. Before meeting with your child, I will ask for the most recent psycho-educational evaluation from your child’s school or private source (i.e. clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist) if you have one. (If you do not have a psycho-educational evaluation, one needs to be obtained shortly after beginning educational therapy. Proper diagnosis and understanding of the client’s learning style is crucial for administering effective treatment of how to combat more difficult learning areas. I can also speak with the assessor to inform him/her on my observations and what tests ought to be administered.) After I review the assessment, we set up a time for an initial session for your child. Although before the initial session we may know what skills need work, the session allows us to further gauge what level and what materials to bring in to match your child’s learning style. If we decide to continue with the educational therapy services, weekly sessions will be arranged. Question 7 International Dyslexia Association –www.interdys.org “Formerly the Orton Dyslexia Association. Provides resources for professionals and families dealing with individuals with reading disabilities.” LD Online- www.ldonline.org “LD OnLine is the leading website on learning disabilities, learning disorders and differences. Parents and teachers of learning disabled children will find accurate and up-to-date information and advice.” NLD on the Web! - http://www.nldontheweb.org “Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD), also called Nonverbal Learning Disabilities, is a developmental disability which all too often goes undiagnosed. This sight provides information on assessments, advocating, and interventions.” Schwab Learning -- http://www.greatschools.net/content/specialNeeds.page?fromSchwab=1“Services for parents and educators to provide information, support and resources to improve the lives of students with learning differences.” Wrightslaw -- http://www.wrightslaw.com“Wrightslaw is the leading website about special education law and advocacy, with thousands of articles, cases, and free resources about dozens of special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.” Parents Helping Parents -- http://www.php.com “PHP is a non-profit organization that offers ongoing self-help groups to support families that have a child with special needs. PHP’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are specific to a certain condition/disability or language. Its LD/ADD support group meets on the second Tuesday of every month from September to May. PHP Support Group for Learning Differences Home © 2009 Tami M. Lee

Common Questions

What is the difference between a tutor and an educational therapist?

Are there any specific signs to a language learning disability?

Question 3

How long do clients typically participate in educational therapy?

Question 4

How much do educational therapy services cost?

Question 5

What is the age range of the clients you serve?

Question 6

How do I proceed with further inquiring about educational therapy services?

Question 7

What are some credible websites where I can learn more about learning differences?

Question 1

Tutoring tends to focus on academic subjects (math, foreign language, reading), without necessarily addressing the cognitive development of the individual. It not necessarily designed for those with learning differences.

Educational Therapists offer individuals with learning disabilities and other learning challenges a wide range of intensive, individualized interventions designed to remediate learning problems. A treatment plan is implemented that utilizes information from a variety of sources including the client’s social, emotional, psycho-educational, and neuropsychological context. Through educational therapy, individuals gain an understanding of their learning style while learning strategies to better assert their strengths and manage their areas of challenge.

To learn more about educational therapy: AET Online

Question 2

The most frequent characteristic of a Specific Language Disability is a significant difference between an individual's achievement and overall intelligence.

Specific signs may include:

Spoken Language: connecting sounds with letters; understanding oral directions; expressing ideas verbally; mispronouncing words, getting confused (mixed up) with similar sounding words.
Written Language: connecting sounds with letters; spelling correctly after much practice; understanding written directions; expressing ideas in writing; writing legibly and copying accurately; comprehending what is read.
Reasoning: difficulties in organizing thoughts; telling facts and events in correct order; listening and paying attention; controlling impulses; finishing homework or schoolwork on time; comprehending what is read.
Memory: problems in information; learning and remembering printed words; comprehending what is read.

Question 3

Sessions are a minimum of twice a week for 50 minutes each. Some clients find that their goals can be met during a year or two, while others need more long-term support. The duration depends on the needs of the client. A client may come back after a couple of years for a refresher or to learn more in-depth skills. Contracts are offered on a month-to-month basis and progress is frequently assessed.

Question 4

Fees vary depending on the type and extent of services provided. Although I do not work with insurance companies, some parents have received assistance through their healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA).

Question 5

Most of the clients range from 2nd grade to 8th grade. However, I have worked with individuals younger and older, and do not hesitate to see if I can assist.

Question 6

The educational therapy process begins with your initial phone call and a free phone consultation to discuss your concerns and what goals you may have. Before meeting with your child, I will ask for the most recent psycho-educational evaluation from your child’s school or private source (i.e. clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist) if you have one.

(If you do not have a psycho-educational evaluation, one needs to be obtained shortly after beginning educational therapy. Proper diagnosis and understanding of the client’s learning style is crucial for administering effective treatment of how to combat more difficult learning areas. I can also speak with the assessor to inform him/her on my observations and what tests ought to be administered.)

After I review the assessment, we set up a time for an initial session for your child. Although before the initial session we may know what skills need work, the session allows us to further gauge what level and what materials to bring in to match your child’s learning style. If we decide to continue with the educational therapy services, weekly sessions will be arranged.

Question 7

International Dyslexia Association –www.interdys.org “Formerly the Orton Dyslexia Association. Provides resources for professionals and families dealing with individuals with reading disabilities.”
LD Online- www.ldonline.org “LD OnLine is the leading website on learning disabilities, learning disorders and differences. Parents and teachers of learning disabled children will find accurate and up-to-date information and advice.”
NLD on the Web! - http://www.nldontheweb.org “Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD), also called Nonverbal Learning Disabilities, is a developmental disability which all too often goes undiagnosed. This sight provides information on assessments, advocating, and interventions.”
Schwab Learning -- http://www.greatschools.net/content/specialNeeds.page?fromSchwab=1“Services for parents and educators to provide information, support and resources to improve the lives of students with learning differences.”
Wrightslaw -- http://www.wrightslaw.com“Wrightslaw is the leading website about special education law and advocacy, with thousands of articles, cases, and free resources about dozens of special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.”
Parents Helping Parents -- http://www.php.com “PHP is a non-profit organization that offers ongoing self-help groups to support families that have a child with special needs. PHP’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are specific to a certain condition/disability or language. Its LD/ADD support group meets on the second Tuesday of every month from September to May. PHP Support Group for Learning Differences