Frequently Asked Questions
Do students have to attend Northwest Reading Clinic daily?
Yes. In order to change the pathways in the brain, consistent and consecutive instruction is most beneficial. Our goal is to empower students to read, spell, and comprehend grade appropriate material on their own. Daily instruction allows students to experience long-lasting success. Without this daily repetition and practice, students would be less likely to remember and apply their new skills and would experience significantly slower progress through the programs of instruction.
Yes. In order to change the pathways in the brain, consistent and consecutive instruction is most beneficial. Our goal is to empower students to read, spell, and comprehend grade appropriate material on their own. Daily instruction allows students to experience long-lasting success. Without this daily repetition and practice, students would be less likely to remember and apply their new skills and would experience significantly slower progress through the programs of instruction.
Can we have a different time on some days?
No. Once a time has been reserved for you, that is your time every day. This allows us to keep the student with the same clinician every day. We believe it is very important for students to build a strong and trusting relationship with their instructor.
No. Once a time has been reserved for you, that is your time every day. This allows us to keep the student with the same clinician every day. We believe it is very important for students to build a strong and trusting relationship with their instructor.
What is the average length of treatment?
On average, students attend for six to eight months at one hour per day, Monday through Friday. We see students ranging in age from 5 to adult with various degrees of difficulties. Therefore, some students may attend for two to three months for enhancement of their skills, while others with more severe issues may attend for a year or more. We will provide an estimated time of treatment following the diagnostic testing.
On average, students attend for six to eight months at one hour per day, Monday through Friday. We see students ranging in age from 5 to adult with various degrees of difficulties. Therefore, some students may attend for two to three months for enhancement of their skills, while others with more severe issues may attend for a year or more. We will provide an estimated time of treatment following the diagnostic testing.
Can my child attend for more than one hour per day?
When appropriate and necessary, we can see students for two to four hours per day. Daily instruction is still mandatory. Many of our adult students and home-schooled students attend for several hours per day. Clients from outside the Portland/Vancouver area also tend to prefer intensive instruction. Most students who are attending during the summer also prefer to come for more than one hour per day, thus allowing them to finish their time estimate more quickly. If students are fairly young and are in school, we may recommend they attend for only one hour per day to avoid excessive tiredness or feelings of being overwhelmed.
When appropriate and necessary, we can see students for two to four hours per day. Daily instruction is still mandatory. Many of our adult students and home-schooled students attend for several hours per day. Clients from outside the Portland/Vancouver area also tend to prefer intensive instruction. Most students who are attending during the summer also prefer to come for more than one hour per day, thus allowing them to finish their time estimate more quickly. If students are fairly young and are in school, we may recommend they attend for only one hour per day to avoid excessive tiredness or feelings of being overwhelmed.
Are there any guarantees that your treatment will work?
We cannot give guarantees, but we can predict with reliability if the programs we offer are appropriate for the student's needs. Many of our students have tried other methods with varying degrees of success. We understand your need for assurances. We have a list of references if you are interested in calling some of our former clients. We expect to see noticeable changes in our students' performance after three months of daily instruction. We will be the first to tell you if we have any concerns, and we are available to you by phone or in person should you have concerns at any time.
We cannot give guarantees, but we can predict with reliability if the programs we offer are appropriate for the student's needs. Many of our students have tried other methods with varying degrees of success. We understand your need for assurances. We have a list of references if you are interested in calling some of our former clients. We expect to see noticeable changes in our students' performance after three months of daily instruction. We will be the first to tell you if we have any concerns, and we are available to you by phone or in person should you have concerns at any time.
What will the testing and treatment cost?
The cost for a diagnostic testing is $550.00 for clients age 7 and up, and $350.00 for clients 6 and younger. There is a discount for additional testings done within the same immediate family, such as siblings or parents. This fee includes a personal consultation and a written report. Testing allows us to determine whether treatment at Northwest Reading Clinic is appropriate. If so, we will discuss the recommended programs of instruction and estimated number of treatment hours in the consultation and report. Currently, our rate for instruction at one hour per day is $800.00 per month.
The cost for a diagnostic testing is $550.00 for clients age 7 and up, and $350.00 for clients 6 and younger. There is a discount for additional testings done within the same immediate family, such as siblings or parents. This fee includes a personal consultation and a written report. Testing allows us to determine whether treatment at Northwest Reading Clinic is appropriate. If so, we will discuss the recommended programs of instruction and estimated number of treatment hours in the consultation and report. Currently, our rate for instruction at one hour per day is $800.00 per month.
What if I can't afford to come to your clinic?
We do have payment plans and a scholarship fund available for treatment. We would be glad to discuss these options with you in greater detail over the phone. We strongly recommend that our testing be administered prior to making extensive financial plans. Once the length of treatment time is determined, you can better measure the financial impact.
We do have payment plans and a scholarship fund available for treatment. We would be glad to discuss these options with you in greater detail over the phone. We strongly recommend that our testing be administered prior to making extensive financial plans. Once the length of treatment time is determined, you can better measure the financial impact.
Are you closed for holidays?
We are closed for most federal holidays. Otherwise, we are open year-round from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We do not close for inservice days or school holidays (spring break, winter break, summer, etc.).
We are closed for most federal holidays. Otherwise, we are open year-round from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We do not close for inservice days or school holidays (spring break, winter break, summer, etc.).
Can we take vacations?
Yes. Consistent attendance is very important, but brief vacations during the course of treatment are not a problem. In most cases, we strongly recommend that the first two to three months of treatment are uninterrupted. If you take a full week vacation (Monday through Friday) after giving us at least two weeks’ notice, your account will be credited for that week. Otherwise, clients do not receive credit for missed sessions. If Northwest Reading Clinic must cancel a session, you will receive credit.
Yes. Consistent attendance is very important, but brief vacations during the course of treatment are not a problem. In most cases, we strongly recommend that the first two to three months of treatment are uninterrupted. If you take a full week vacation (Monday through Friday) after giving us at least two weeks’ notice, your account will be credited for that week. Otherwise, clients do not receive credit for missed sessions. If Northwest Reading Clinic must cancel a session, you will receive credit.
How are your clinicians trained?
Every instructor receives extensive training prior to working with students. The average length of training is six weeks. Once our clinicians are trained, they continue to receive guidance and instruction from their supervisors. Clinicians begin teaching students under the direct supervision of an experienced clinician or supervisor. Supervisors consult regularly with every student to ensure that treatment is progressing as it should be.
Every instructor receives extensive training prior to working with students. The average length of training is six weeks. Once our clinicians are trained, they continue to receive guidance and instruction from their supervisors. Clinicians begin teaching students under the direct supervision of an experienced clinician or supervisor. Supervisors consult regularly with every student to ensure that treatment is progressing as it should be.
Will you work with the teachers at school?
We would be glad to discuss our programs with school staff and administration, pending consent from the guardian. We also welcome parents and teachers to observe clinical sessions at Northwest Reading Clinic. We do appreciate notice prior to observations.
We would be glad to discuss our programs with school staff and administration, pending consent from the guardian. We also welcome parents and teachers to observe clinical sessions at Northwest Reading Clinic. We do appreciate notice prior to observations.
My child has already had a lot of testing done. Is more testing necessary?
If comparable testing was done in the past six months, there is a possibility that Northwest Reading Clinic could do a partial testing at a reduced rate. The parent or guardian would need to provide us with scores and written reports. Some testing would most likely need to be administered at Northwest Reading Clinic. Our battery of tests is very thorough and includes many tests not used by the schools. Additionally, it is very important for the examiner to meet with and observe the individual in order to provide an accurate skill assessment. If the student becomes a client, it is also beneficial to compare testing results prior to and following treatment.
If comparable testing was done in the past six months, there is a possibility that Northwest Reading Clinic could do a partial testing at a reduced rate. The parent or guardian would need to provide us with scores and written reports. Some testing would most likely need to be administered at Northwest Reading Clinic. Our battery of tests is very thorough and includes many tests not used by the schools. Additionally, it is very important for the examiner to meet with and observe the individual in order to provide an accurate skill assessment. If the student becomes a client, it is also beneficial to compare testing results prior to and following treatment.
Do you do follow-up testing at the end of treatment? How much does that cost?
We always retest our clients at the end of treatment. Retesting takes place during the student’s regularly scheduled sessions. There is no extra fee for retesting. We will send a final report about two weeks after the student’s last day of treatment. This report includes the initial testing scores, the retest scores, and suggestions and recommendations to help your student maintain his/her progress.
