Spelling Abilities

Adults and children can be affected by problems with spelling. However it is a problem that is thought to affect around 90 per cent of children at some stages. Difficulties in spelling are caused by a combination of symptoms.

In order to learn to spell perfectly, a word needs to be retained in visual memory. If it is not then we have to rely on our sound processing (phonological) skills developed from our reading skill ability. However so many words in the English language do not follow regular sound rules. This is why so many poor readers spell phonetically (e.g. yacht will be spelt ‘yot’). Therefore visual memory skills have to be improved and/or reading skills have to get better before spelling ability can improve. This is why some people have better spelling skills than reading because their visual memory is good but their sound processing skill is weak so new words cannot be learned so easily.

The cerebellum helps control the development of sound processing and visual processing systems and so is extremely important in the development of the systems essential to allow spelling skills to develop.

The Dore programme is designed to develop the cerebellum so that it functions efficiently. Our approach to correcting learning problems means that poor spelling ability is one of the later symptoms to improve.

Showing signs of poor spelling?