"The other day I caught myself saying, 'Get your nose out of that book and go outside.' Nine months ago, I was pleading with 
my son to read. He said he was so engrossed in this book because the author describes the setting so well that he could see 
it in his mind. How's that for visualizing?!" 
- Carol Z., Parent

Symptoms of Weak Language Comprehension
Unclear, vague oral and written expression
Difficulty comprehending oral and written material
Difficulty following oral or written directions
Difficulty understanding abstract concepts in school and at home (i.e. cause and effect, predicting consequences)
Difficulty understanding and using age-appropriate vocabulary
Struggles within peer or family relationships, weak sense of humor 

Our Students
Individuals with weak comprehension do not accurately visualize the information they read or hear. Some people image only bits and pieces of language, or try to recall each word and its definition from memory rather than making an overall image. This causes the student to struggle to remember information he or she reads or hears. It also leads to difficulties in:
analyzing information
determining the main idea
drawing conclusions
making predictions and inferences
forming and justifying opinions
Many students with poor comprehension are not diagnosed by the school, since they may read and spell with ease. As students progress in school, a comprehension difficulty can lead to significant gaps in information. Students may struggle to express themselves orally and in writing. Peer and family relationships may suffer since the student has difficulty understanding others, predicting consequences, following directions, and communicating.

Our Method
Students at Northwest Reading Clinic learn to:
Create detailed mental images from oral and written material
Use those pictures to answer questions and summarize information
Use mental images to build vocabulary 
Create images starting at the single word level and transitioning into grade level textbooks and homework
Use images to organize thoughts for writing

"When I first started your program, I didn't have much enthusiasm. I had many self-esteem problems related to my not understanding what I was reading. Now that I have reached my goal, I am so much happier. It is really neat to read a book and actually know what is going on. I get the funniest pictures in my head and can remember much better than before. I can't wait to try the imagery in college in a few weeks." 
- Susan N., college student

"It has been a little over a year since our daughter completed her program at the clinic. Today we met with her special education teachers for her regular three year evaluation. After testing, we were informed that she had successfully demonstrated her reading and comprehension skills to a point that she no longer qualifies as a special education student. Words cannot express the feeling of accomplishment. We want to thank you for all you have done for our daughter.” 
- Geri O., parent



Northwest Reading Clinic, Inc.

Vocabulary.htmlTreatment%20Programs.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0
Single Word: Flower
Single Sentence: There are blue eggs in the nest.
Goal: Comprehend grade level passages.
Staff FAQ Research Programs Diagnostic Testing About Us Resources Home NEWS!