Pointing out that the learning models of children with learning disabilities are different, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that individualized education is the key to special learning disabilities, not medication. Underlining that the vital source of children with dyslexia is education, Atıf Tokar, President of the Foundation for Children with Dyslexia, noted that the main element of education is occupational therapy and occupational therapy is the medicine for children with dyslexia.

In the symposium titled "Multidisciplinary Approach to Learning Disabilities" organized by Üsküdar University Occupational Therapy Department Head Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova, Health, Culture and Sports Directorate, Occupational Therapy Club and Foundation for Children with Dyslexia, the problems of individuals with learning disabilities and solutions to these problems were discussed.

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: "The biggest need of people with learning disabilities is special education"

Delivering the opening speech of the program held at Üsküdar University Altunizade Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said that there is a large generation in society with learning disabilities and that this mass needs education. Stating that as psychiatry professionals, people who consult them with this problem are diagnosed by passing a series of tests, Tarhan said, "Then it is said 'special education will be provided'. But only classical special education is not enough. In this case, we fall short in many subjects. When we research this in the world, there are new perspectives on children with learning disabilities. When we research what these are, we come across occupational therapy."

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: "The learning models of these children are different"

Stating that the learning models of children with special learning difficulties are different, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, "We have seen here that the learning model of these children is different. These children cannot help it. Their minds work differently. While everyone is laughing while sitting in the classroom, these children cannot laugh because they cannot understand. They get lonely and unhappy in class. They remain marginalized in the classroom, they become very isolated. They become extremely irritable and angry, depressed. These children need to be taught to use the bridge while crossing the stream. While other children learn through social learning, these children learn through one-to-one methods. We will teach these children social participation. We will teach them whatever skills they lack. For this, there is the Sensory Integration Battery developed by occupational therapists. In this, children are screened for balance, visual perception, tactile perception. The weak area is found and personalized training is given in that area and the child is so happy that you are surprised. Because when he learns, he succeeds and is happy."

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: "Intervention between the ages of 0-6 is very important"

Underlining that the age of 0-6 is very important in the intervention of learning disabilities, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, "If they enter special learning education before the neural network in the brain related to learning is not yet formed, they become much faster and much closer to normal. If it is late, it is much more difficult. For this reason, it is very important to identify these children between the ages of 0-6 and to work on their skills. There is no drug treatment in special learning disabilities, there is individualized education. In individualized education, it is very important to determine the individual needs of that person."

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan underlined that collecting and publishing all the studies conducted will make significant contributions to the developments in this field.

Atıf Tokar: "We founded the association to show the way"

Atıf Tokar, President of the Foundation for Children with Dyslexia, said that in 2013, when the association was founded, there were very few people in Turkey who knew the concept of dyslexia and that they carried out very serious studies as an association. Stating that they carry out awareness raising activities as an association and that they have never severed their ties with universities, Tokar talked about the difficulties experienced by children with learning difficulties and their families.

Atıf Tokar "Occupational therapy is the medicine for children with dyslexia"

Stating that they are working to guide these individuals and their families, Tokar said, "He thinks he is the only one who has this. Because they don't know anything, there is no one to guide them. We established the association for this purpose and now awareness activities are over. Now it is time for education. The vital source of children with dyslexia is education. The main element of education for children with dyslexia is occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is the medicine for children with dyslexia. If you want to touch the lives of children with dyslexia, you must provide education. If you want to provide education, you must be an occupational therapist, speech and language specialist and special educator. These three people can touch my child. Classroom teachers and psychologists come into play later. After the education is given, the child changes a lot," he said.

Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Department Representative İsa Kör stated that they are here to understand, explain and produce solutions for specific learning disabilities and thanked the university for providing all kinds of opportunities.

Data from the field were shared

In the first session moderated by Atıf Tokar, President of the Foundation for Children with Dyslexia, Müberra Oğuz, Branch Manager of Ankara Provincial Directorate of National Education, emphasized the importance of providing education according to the characteristics of the individual in her presentation titled "Data from the Field". Oğuz shared information about mainstreaming trainings in National Education.

Aynur Sayım "We are their life helpers"

Child Adolescent Psychologist Aynur Sayım from Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Center participated with her presentation titled "The Effect of Learning Difficulties on School Life". Talking about their work in the clinical field, Sayım pointed out the importance of a holistic approach. Emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the child, family, school and treatment team in specific learning disabilities, Sayım stated that especially school-age children experience problems such as anxiety, anger, fear of school, depression and said, "These children come to us for help, we are their life helpers."

Suna Varol Cörüt: "Cooperation between school, family and rehabilitation center is important"

In her presentation titled "Expectations of Individuals with Dyslexia from Rehabilitation Centers", Suna Varol Cörüt, Chairperson of the Turkish Dyslexia Assembly, drew attention to the importance of cooperation between the school, family and rehabilitation center. Cörüt said, "This is very important because if one of these three pillars is missing, the service provided to the child is incomplete and inadequate and does not reach the point it should reach" and emphasized the need to increase the number of specialists in the field of special education.

The Effect of Sensory Integration on Learning was discussed

Moderated by Sensory Integration Specialist Mon. In the second session moderated by Yeşim Ünveren, Ünveren made a presentation titled "The Effect of Sensory Integration on Learning". MKU Special Education Department Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Şükran Öz participated in the second session with her presentation titled "Looking at the Educational Environments of Children with Learning Disabilities from a Different Perspective: Attribution Theory". Göksel Aydın, 4th year student of Occupational Therapy Department, made a presentation titled "Play Therapy as Occupational Therapy Activities in Dyslexia".

Occupational therapy students also participated with their presentations

The third session of the program was moderated by Child Neurology Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Ekici. Occupational Therapist Öykü Su Unay, "Developmental Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder), Occupational Therapy Department 3rd Year Student İrem Hayta participated with her presentations titled "Lifelong Dyslexia".

The last session was moderated by Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova, Head of Üsküdar University Occupational Therapy Department. Üsküdar University Lecturer. Assist. Shahram Mohseni discussed "Dyslexia in Children with Autism", Kadriye Yağmurcu presented "Music and Dance Therapy as an Internal Model in Learning Disabilities" and Isa Kör, 4th year student of Occupational Therapy Department, presented "Occupational Therapy Practices in Albatros Special Education Center".

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜHA)