“Life is like a departure lounge. The place you end up depends on which ticket you bought.” ~ Dr. Dion T. Harrigan

Police officers use fingerprint files to find criminals. Some high-tech offices have doors that open with someone’s eye print. Blind people know who is talking to them by their voice print and they can tell who is coming by the sound of their footsteps. The identity of a dead person can be found by their teeth.

Each person is born with a unique brain and body.

All brains may be anatomically similar, but each one functions in a customized way.

During the years I worked with my dyslexic daughter, I learned that when it came to helping her overcome her challenges and achieve learning success…  

• Everything matters

By everything, I’m referring to all the faculties of the brain and activities of the body.

When it comes to the working of the human machinery, everything is connected.

You perceive stimuli inside and outside your bodies through your senses. You take in the world… information, experiences, etc., through your…

• Sight
• Hearing
• Touch
• Taste
• Smell

The brain then processes and interprets the stimuli it received through those five avenues. The completeness of the signal the brain receives depends on the integrity of the neural channels along which it travels.

Here are some lessons I learned along the journey with my dyslexic daughter, as I took her from failure and struggle to high school valedictorian:

1^st Lesson

In the process of acquiring knowledge, the visual is learned before the verbal. Research tells us that 90% of what you take in is visual.

Application

You need to check your child’s vision – comprehensive vision testing that assesses both acuity and visual processing. In other words, how sharp is their vision, as well as how is their brain handling what it perceives? Accurate visual processing is vital for reading.

2^nd Lesson

The auditory system organizes the body. Like vision, the perception of sound (hearing) is different from the processing (auditory processing) of it.

Application

Find out how your child’s brain interprets the sound stimuli it receives. Interruptions in auditory processing are similar to interference in the reception of a cell phone. Some messages are misinterpreted, while others do not get through at all.

3^rd Lesson

For all children, touch and movement are essential for learning. That’s why babies put everything in their mouths. The ear houses both the organ of hearing and the one for balance (movement). Any deficiency in the operation of one affects the other. Reading involves eye movement.

Application

Observe your child’s balance and movement. Look for inconsistencies like touching the walls whenever s/he walks near them. Check their pencil grip and handwriting.

4^th Lesson

The food your child tastes and eats is important. Proper nutrition is crucial for optimal learning. Garbage in…garbage out. Food causes chemical changes in the brain.

Application

Implement a balanced eating plan and check their response to various types and consistencies of foods.

5^th Lesson

The smells in the child’s environment can enhance or detract from learning.

Application

Always be aware of odors in your home, especially during homework time. Note which smells your child complains about and which s/he celebrates.

If every brain is unique, why are children taught using the same method and required to show what they have learned in a standardized manner?

As your child’s life takes off on the airplane of education, you can choose to buy them the ticket to learning dis-abilities, or the ticket to learning differences. The ticket you buy will determine their destination.

Parents are in a pivotal position to set up their children for learning success and life.

What one thing can you do to propel your child or grandchild to success in school land life?