How to improve reading skills?

[siya31]

Hi, we have a 10 year old daughter who has ADHD, and has been diagnosed with non-verbal learning disability (NVLD). I have been tutoring her in Math at home, so she does not fall behind at school. However my problem is reading, she is now going to 5th grade, but is stuck on 2-3rd grade level books. She refuses to read her grade level books, how do I improve her reading ability?
She only likes books with pictures and larger words. She tends to read very fast (impatience) and has some trouble  with reading comprehension, how do we go ahead? we have tried stimulants and other meds for adhd without benefit.
worriedmom.

[KayTee56]

One thing I have learned from working with my ASD son, is always start from where he is at, not from where I want him to be :-)   i.e.  Let your daughter read the books that are comfortable for her, and then take it up one step at a time.  

Really small increments are what work for my son. If the increment from his current skill level is too big, we get nowhere. If the increment is the right size, we progress fast.

As for as books are concerned, ReadingA-Z (readingA-Z.com) has tons of leveled readers. Your daughter can start at the level she likes and you can help her progress gradually through the levels.

There are apps that are also useful. Check out Happy Frog Apps (happyFrogApps.com).  All of their apps focus on reading comprehension and they work on building the fundamental skills.  They'll help you figure out if some specific comprehension weakness is contributing to the problem.

Hope this helps!

[Biggyshackleton]

If the pictures and bigger words make reading easier/more confortable for her, have you tried inflating the text?
You could also think about finding pictures to go with the story, as this may help to engage her attention.
If this works, you could progress to persuading her to look up/find pictures to go with the story she is reading.

[Sandman2]

   I was trying to figure out how much of the problem was ADHD related, and how much was related to improper medication.   Because, treating the reading problem may not be treating the cause of the reading problem.  I still really don't have much of a feeling for what is going on with her medication wise.  Its very difficult for a child with ADHD to concentrate when the meds have wore off.  If it is highly entertaining, they can really focus in, but otherwise its very difficult.   nausea and insomnia are pretty common side effects and can normally be dealt with by adjusting the meds.  Don't understand the no help with attention.   But Wellbutrin is not a stim med and typically takes longer to work and doesn't help with focus as well as the stim meds.   Anyway, the med issue is something that we can discuss more about later.  
   I don't know which state you are in (makes a small difference in terms of public school excellance), but as you may be finding out - private schools are many times not equipped to handle kids with special needs.
   My first suggestion is to get the book,  "The ADD/ ADHD Answer book," by Susan Ashley. This book will give you a lot of help in working with your daughter and working with the school systems.
   Next, definitely follow Rebecca Resnik's advice.  It is right on target.  Her first paragraph is very important.  You have to understand how ADHD kids learn!
   What I would add to Rebecca's ideas is a few ideas for books.  Get any book by Shel Silverstein  and Roald Dahl.   These are books my 5th graders loved.  Particulary get "Where the Sidewalk Ends"   This is lots of short and very funny (weird) poems that are easy to read to her and short enough that she can start trying them her self.  Some of the poems may be five finger ones, but other will be two or three fingers.   My favorite all time book is "Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot back" by Silverstein.  Its a great book to read out loud.   Of Course, Roald Dahl is very famous for Charle and the Chocolate Factory, but he has many other great short books.  I loved Matilda which is about a young girl in the English school system.  Its very funny and kind of edgy.  
     Anyway, reading aloud to her at night is very important.  Letting her read books that she is comfortable with is also very important.  Talk to her teachers and get books that they have found appeal to this age group.  And you can always go on line to the Notable Children's Books found here - http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb/ncbpastlists
   Hope this helps and if I can help more with the whole ADHD thing - please let me know!

[siya31]

We have tried Vyvanse and Daytrana, however the nausea and insomnia was severe and also did not help with attention, tried Wellbutrin and one other one, cant think of the name now.
She did poorly in public school, so she is in private school now, they have some accomodations and per the teacher she is at grade level, but I believe they inflate grades, at home she can only read grade 2-3 rd books.I would like to improve her reading fluency and comprehension.

[Sandman2]

It would help to know when she was diagnosed. Has the school given extra help?  Is she now on extended release meds and if so at about what time do they quit working?  Did the stimulants not help at all ( didn't slow down hyperactivity) or just didn't help with the reading problem?   What other meds did you try?