This is a follow-up of Hannah, who was diagnosed as severely dyslexic. In PART 1 of this case study Hannah’s progress, after enrolling at Edublox in March 2016, was provided by occupational therapy reports. Below is her progress, as evaluated by Dr Lombard, an educational and remedial practitioner, who has assessed Hannah biennially since 2011.
Dr Lombard used a number of tests to assess Hannah’s progress, including:
- HSRC graded test for skills development
- Bender-Gestalt
- Laterality
- Receptive language
- Reading, comprehension and spelling
- Lees- en spellingvaardighede – Afrikaans addisionele taal
.
HSRC graded test for skills development
This test consists of six subtests. Scoring 0-3 for a subtest is considered to be “below average”, 4-6 “average” and 7-10 “high average”. After joining Edublox Hannah scored “high average” for every subtest.
Test 1
This test assesses the learner’s ability towards VISUAL DISCRIMINATION.
Below are Hannah’s scores:
18/03/2011: 1.5 (below average)
03/05/2013: 6.9 (average)
08/07/2015: 4.7 (average)
07/05/2017: 8.4 (high average)
Test 2
This test assesses the learner’s ability towards FINE AND EYE HAND COORDINATION, concentration, laterality, distinguishing of foreground/background, persistence and perseverance.
Below are Hannah’s scores:
18/03/2011: 3 (below average)
03/05/2013: 4 (average)
08/07/2015: 4 (average)
07/05/2017: 8 (high average)
Test 3
This test assesses the learner’s ability towards VERBAL REASONING, concentration, abstract thinking and cultural/pedagogical background.
Below are Hannah’s scores:
18/03/2011: 5 (average)
03/05/2013: 8.3 (high average)
08/07/2015: 8.3 (high average)
07/05/2017: 8.3 (high average)
Test 4
This test assesses the learner’s ability towards ABSTRACT THINKING, visual discrimination, concentration, reasoning and cultural/pedagogical background.
Below are Hannah’s scores:
18/03/2011: 6 (average)
03/05/2013: 6 (average)
08/07/2015: 10 (high average)
07/05/2017: 10 (high average)
Test 5
This test assesses the learner’s ability towards NUMBER CONCEPTS, concentration, visual discrimination and cultural/pedagogical background.
Below are Hannah’s scores:
18/03/2011: 0 (below average)
03/05/2013: 2 (below average)
08/07/2015: 6 (average)
07/05/2017: 8.3 (high average)
Test 6
This test assesses the learner’s ability towards Gestalt (shape concepts), ANALYSIS/SYNTHESIS, laterality, position in space, concentration and fine motor coordination.
Below are Hannah’s scores:
18/03/2011: 3 (below average)
03/05/2013: 6 (average)
08/07/2015: 6 (average)
07/05/2017: 8 (high average)
The graph below plots Hannah’s progress on the HSRC graded test for skills development:
Bender-Gestalt
This test consists of nine elementary figures that the learner has to copy. The protocol is scored in terms of mistakes that the learner makes, for example rounding an angle or making a circle instead of a dot. The score gives an indication of the visual-motor maturity of the learner.
Since joining Edublox, Hannah’s score has improved from “on standard” to “above standard”:
08/07/2015: “Hannah copied the figures and achieved a score that is on standard for her expected age level.”
07/05/2017: “Hannah copied the figures and achieved a score that is above standard for her expected age level.”
Laterality
Laterality entails the establishment of a dominant side of the brain – i.e. the grade of superiority of one side of the body above the other side related to sensory input as well as motor ability.
Since joining Edublox, Hannah’s midline crossing has improved:
08/07/2015: “She still could not cross her midline sufficiently. Her knowledge of lefts and rights is adequate.”
07/05/2017: “Midline crossing has improved, as well as knowledge of lefts and rights.”
Receptive language
Receptive language is the learner’s ability to comprehend or understand language. Hannah was required to listen to sentences varying in length and complexity.
Since joining Edublox, Hannah’s ability to understand complex grammatical concepts has improved from “under average” to “average”:
08/07/2015:
- “Elaborated sentences: average
- “Grammatical morphemes: average
- “Complex grammatical concepts: under average”
.
07/05/2017:
- “Elaborated sentences: average
- “Grammatical morphemes: average
- “Complex grammatical concepts: average”
.
Reading, comprehension and spelling
Hannah’s reading was 3 years and 6 months below her chronological age in 2015. Since joining Edublox in March 2016, this deficit has decreased to only 2 years. In addition, she scored 80% for comprehension:
08/07/2015: “Performance yielded an age equivalence that is 3 years and 6 months below chronological age, which explains her low scores for accuracy and comprehension. Her spelling tested on Grade 2 [term 2].”
07/05/2017: “Her performance in 2017 yielded an age equivalence that is only 2 years below chronological age. She, furthermore, got an average of 80% for comprehension. Her spelling tested on Grade 4 [term 1].”
Lees- en spellingvaardighede – Afrikaans addisionele taal
Hannah’s Afrikaans has also improved…
08/07/2015: “Hannah se leesvaardighede (twee- en drieletter woorde), woordherkenning en spelling- en begripsvaardighede toets tans op Gr 1 [kwartaal 3]. Hier is dus sprake van ‘n groot agterstand.”
07/05/2017: “Hannah se leesvaardighede (twee- en drieletter woorde) en woordherkenning toets tans op Gr 4 [kwartaal 1] en spelling toets op Gr 2 [kwartaal 1]. Sy het die merkwaardige gemiddeld van 90% vir haar begripstoetse behaal. Dit is wanneer die werk aan haar voorgelees word.”
Dr Lombard’s conclusion
07/05/2017: “HANNAH HAS MADE REMARKABLE PROGRESS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS – in terms of her academic and emotional development.”
Dr Lombard Educational and Remedial Practitioner
