Have British scientists found a 'cure' for Dyslexia?
On Monday October 30th 2006 a leading university professor announced the
discovery of a drug-free solution for the symptoms of dyslexia and ADHD – among
the world’s biggest unresolved educational issues.
Professor David Reynolds of Plymouth university made the announcement after
carrying out a three-year study into this pioneering intervention.
The results of the study are being published in the highly respected, peer
reviewed academic journal, Dyslexia.
The study, working with the lowest performing children in a Midlands
England school, showed that following the treatment the pupils had strong
and lasting improvements in their scores in national literacy tests.
Professor Reynolds said: "Before the treatment began, independent school reading
tests showed that the children with learning difficulties were making only
seven months progress in 12 months. And they were falling further and further
behind their peers.
"In the 12 months of treatment the children made 20 months improvement in
reading progress and caught up with their peers.
"After the treatment the children maintained their progress - in other words the
treatment provided a permanent solution to the problem. The program was just as
effective whether or not the children had been previously diagnosed as
dyslexic."
Trevor Davies, head teacher of the Balsall Common School, where the study took
place, is also astounded.
He said: "I have been a head for 25 years and I have seen a lot of children with
learning and attention difficulties getting nowhere.
"In my entire career I have never been involved with an initiative that has had
such a massive impact on children's learning and their lives
"In my opinion this program has cured these children of their learning and
attention difficulties."
Professor Reynolds added: Medical specialists and scientists avoid using the
word cure in this situation because the debate it causes about whether dyslexia
and ADHD have disease status or not.
"But I have no doubt that the layman watching the effects of the treatment in
more than 80 per cent of children who complete this program, would agree it is
a cure."
The treatment in question is pioneered by a British medical clinic, Dore.
Founded by a father who came out of retirement to help his daughter after her
severe dyslexia caused her to attempt suicide, Dore's methods work using
individually prescribed eye, balance and sensory exercises designed to
stimulate an area of the brain called the cerebellum - a tangerine sized organ
at the back of the head that is now understood to be involved in learning new
skills (eg reading) and controlling attention.
Studies by Harvard Medical School, New York University and the University of
California, have all confirmed the link between the cerebellum and learning and
attention difficulties.
Wynford Dore said: "Experts have argued for 50 years about whether dyslexia
exists or not, they have argued about what causes it, how to define it, how to
diagnose it and how to treat it.
"We didn't have time for any more argument. My daughter Susie attempted to take
her own life while the so-called experts argued among themselves.
"We focused on solving the problem rather than arguing about its existence. Is
this a cure? This independent research, backed by a peer review, confirms we
can now take away the problems in more than 80 per cent of cases. It is drug
free and thus risk free, no other can say that."
The journal Dyslexia can be viewed through
Wileyinterscience.