Q. "My son (and husband) has trouble reading and understanding but does not think he ‘sees’ in pictures. How can we help?"
A. When speaking of “Word” and “Picture” thinking. The idea of “Picture” thinking refers to using multiple senses.
In order to read quickly and also understand what they read, individuals still need to develop a good, fast connection between the words the eyes see and what those words mean. Whether they can consciously visualize the meaning of a word or not, ‘meaning’ is usually tied to a sensory impression. You can know what the word ‘red’ or ‘diamond’ means by having some impression of the color or shape of an object looks like. An example is this: You can’t go and search for your car in a crowded parking lot without having some preconceived image of what makes your car look different from all others. Some words like ‘loud’ or ‘pungent’ or ‘cold’ don’t have visual impressions tied to them… but of course, they do still have a sensory impression connected to their meaning.
Only if you know what ‘cold’ feels like, can you know what the word means.
A. When speaking of “Word” and “Picture” thinking. The idea of “Picture” thinking refers to using multiple senses.
In order to read quickly and also understand what they read, individuals still need to develop a good, fast connection between the words the eyes see and what those words mean. Whether they can consciously visualize the meaning of a word or not, ‘meaning’ is usually tied to a sensory impression. You can know what the word ‘red’ or ‘diamond’ means by having some impression of the color or shape of an object looks like. An example is this: You can’t go and search for your car in a crowded parking lot without having some preconceived image of what makes your car look different from all others. Some words like ‘loud’ or ‘pungent’ or ‘cold’ don’t have visual impressions tied to them… but of course, they do still have a sensory impression connected to their meaning.
Only if you know what ‘cold’ feels like, can you know what the word means.
When trying the idea of having your son and husband ‘get the picture’ of what they are reading, keep in mind that the words "seeing", "visualizing", "picturing" etc. are sometimes used very literally by a non-verbal thinker. As his eyes are closed, he cannot physically "see" anything. Changing the wording is often very helpful: Instead of asking, "Do you see ...?" try, "picture/imagine what … looks like?" or similar wording.
Of the most importance is to remember that opening the door to the role of imagination and use of multiple senses creates multiple opportunities for learners to ‘get the picture’. I recall a young man saying at the end of his program, that having tools “made me use my imagination, that was locked in the basement”.
Of the most importance is to remember that opening the door to the role of imagination and use of multiple senses creates multiple opportunities for learners to ‘get the picture’. I recall a young man saying at the end of his program, that having tools “made me use my imagination, that was locked in the basement”.
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