By Town Crier Staff Report

Photo by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier

A new 45-minute exercise may help parents determine if their children are dyslexic.

Facilix Company is offering a home diagnostic test complimentary to local families to use as the first step in diagnosing dyslexia.

The system is designed to alert parents that their children’s learning difficulties might be the result of dyslexia. Further psychological tests should be used to verify the result, said Clair Sater, a longtime Los Altos resident, who is one of the principals of the new educational company. He served as an executive in several local medical companies, including Syntex and LifeScan. Sater became interested in dyslexia nearly two years ago when he volunteered to write a business plan for the three other founding principals.

Dyslexia may hamper children’s ability to read and learn. It may also hinder their understanding of what they hear or their ability to express themselves clearly when they speak or write, Slater said.

“Most kids are completely cured by good training,” Sater said. “The problem is most kids get undiagnosed. If you know, you can do something about it.”

The disorder can be remedied. According to studies, the sooner a child is diagnosed and given special instruction, the sooner that youngster will be able to learn. Dyslexic children are often described as bright and creative. Their brains seem to work differently and they need to know how to compensate for the dyslexia, experts say.

The Monterey Dyslexia PreScreen, the test that Facilix offers, would give Los Altos area residents a chance to participate in Facilix’s project. The test is free and parents will receive expert analysis of the results. In return, parents will be asked to provide feedback. Sater said that there will be no further obligations and all information will be held in the strictest confidence.

The test will be conducted with a workbook and videotape. Parents will guide their child through approximately 30 minutes of testing. The exercise is divided into three parts: language abilities, alphabet sequencing and phonological awareness.

Facilix Company was established to develop a dyslexia pre-screening system and related learning diagnostic aids for parents.

Interested parents can get more information from Facilix by contacting the company at their address, the Facilix Company, 2600 Garden Road, Suite 209, Monterey 93940; by phone at (831) 656-9998; by fax at (831) 656-0294 ; or by e-mail at Facilix@yahoo.com.