Is There A Cure For Dyslexia?
Talking about curing dyslexia can get a lot of people upset. Most professionals and most sufferers think dyslexia is incurable but is this right?
As always with dyslexia the starting point is what we mean when we say someone is dyslexic. If you define dyslexia as just a problem with reading then when a dyslexic learns to read they must be ‘cured’ because they no long fit the description of dyslexia. The reality is that dyslexia is a syndrome, a collection of symptoms where the sufferer needs to have several, but not necessarily all symptoms, to be diagnosed. These symptoms include reading, spelling and writing problems plus poor short-term memory, poor phonological abilities and poor motor skills (clumsiness). This definition of dyslexia as a syndrome makes discussion of a cure even harder. How many symptoms of dyslexia have to disappear or be reduced before the person is cured?
As there is no clear definition of dyslexia or what counts as a cure I’ve come with my own.
Dyslexia is cured when a person who has previously been diagnosed as dyslexic can perform a routine tasks such as school work, playing sports or social activities in the same length of time, with the same level of effort and with the same level of success as an average person.
Now we have a definition, is a cure possible?
Yes
Various studies using fMRI and other brain scanning techniques have shown that when a dyslexic reads, they use their brain differently from non-dyslexics. These same studies also found that when treated over a number of month with a phonic based reading program, the dyslexic’s brain changes to be more like a non-dyslexics.
If the brain can change when dealing with reading then the brain can change in relationship with the other symptoms of dyslexia. By combining multiple different types of training to tackle the multiple different symptoms then dyslexia can be cured.
Tackling each symptom one at a time is a long and slow process but by treating them in a sensible order so that the conquering of one problem makes it easier to deal with the next, some time and effort can be saved. Reading, writing and spelling are learnt by an average child after they have learnt about moving their body and how to hear. So it makes sense that a dyslexia cure would tackle the symptoms in the same order.
There are several approaches to treating poor coordination. The most famous is the Dore Achievement Programme. This is the programme I used and it was very effective but other approaches exist. Such as Learning Breakthrough and INPP.
The symptom of poor phonological skills is harder to treat. There are various phonic teaching systems but these are designed to teach reading. What is required is a way of developing the ear’s ability to differentiate between any sounds not just the sounds needs for reading. This is where learning to sing can help because you need to be able to hear the differences in the notes. It also has the added benefit of improving the sense of rhythm and is a good at building self-confidence.
Once the motor and phonological problems have been tackled it is very likely that no special training will be required to tackle the remaining symptoms of poor reading, spelling and short-term memory. Now the brain has mastered the basics of movement and hearing as well as average child it will learn academic skill with the same ease as an average child. If further work is necessary then phonic and multi-sensory reading programmes are recommend. There are also numerous approaches to improving memory skills.
Curing dyslexia is possible but it certainly is not easy. To tackle even one symptom will take months of hard work, day in and day out. To tackle all of them is a task measured in years.
Previously on Myomancy: Dyslexia and fMRI, Singing Cavemen and Amusia
On the Myomancy Treatment Database: Balance, Coordination
Research: Neural deficits in children with dyslexia ameliorated by behavioral remediation: Evidence from functional MRI, Examining Rhythm and Melody Processing in Young Children Using fMRI [ PDF ].
Find Out More:
Books:
- Dyslexia: Seeing Spells Achieving: Improve your spelling, reading, memory, dyslexic symptoms, in any language, by using your brain the way nature intended, through NLP and visualisation
- Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level
- Reading David: A Mother and Son’s Journey Through the Labyrinth of Dyslexia
- Surprise Treatment for Dyslexia, ADHD, Headaches and Other Conditions: It’s All About Information Management
- Reversals: A Personal Account of Victory over Dyslexia
July 6th, 2006
Dyslexia, Dyslexia Treatment, Memory, Balance & Coordination, Music
Comments on: Is There A Cure For Dyslexia?
It is really tough just to read long posts myself. I count as a ‘cured’ dyslexic, being a prof who teaches critical thinking, writing, and does research. But I always think of it as ‘performing as a non-dyslexic’, that is, giving off the outward appearance that I have no problem with things, but it is just that. A performance.
Posted by: Jason Nolan July 6th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
Jason,
If an average person reads long posts quicker and with less effort than you do, then I would not count you as cured.
Many if not all dyslexics find it necessary to put a performance in school or in work. This ability to fit in or cope does not constitute a cure.
Only when you don’t need to put on a performance would you be cured.
Chris
Posted by: Chris Tregenza July 6th, 2006 at 3:21 pm
I feel really angry when I read about “curing” dyslexia. Has anyone heard of 3-d thinking? Why would we want to cure that? Now if by cure you mean show 3d thinkers how to operate in a 2d world that is a great idea. And teach 2d thinkers how to be 3d too. Can anyone say WHOLE BRAIN. Our school systems only seem to want children with half a brain. Thanks for reading my rant.
Posted by: Sheila October 27th, 2006 at 8:30 pm
Can anyone tell me of their personal experiences at a DORE clinic? I am trying to decide whether to sign my son up for their program. He has been diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD.
Help! Is it a scam or for rela?
Posted by: Rogene November 22nd, 2006 at 2:13 am
Hello Rogene (and any one else who is deciding)
My son started the programme 7 long months ago and although we were not convinced it would work it seemed worth a try. Until recently I was also desperately searching for reassurance from those who’ve succeeded.But last week, to my amazement and delight, my son’s tests are showing that the treatment is starting to work! His eye tracking which was very poor has improved resulting in more ease with reading - he used to jump to the wrong line and repeatedly miss out words. There are other small improvements - thinking faster, tying shoelaces, thinking ahead resulting in him being ‘thoughtful’ and helpful. Small beginnings but I’m now convinced it’s the right thing to do and we can continue for the next year, or however long it takes, knowing that it really works.
No one seems to want to answer Rogene which is a problem I have found with Dore achievers - where are they? If anyone has any ideas about how to get them to come forward please let me know. We all need to hear from them.
Posted by: sophy January 6th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
The fact that Dore achievers are so hard to find is puzzling. You may want to read part 1 [ http://www.myomancy.com/2006/12/dore_program_ma.html ] and especially part 2 [ http://www.myomancy.com/2006/12/dore_program_ma_1.html ] of my look at Dore’s approach to marketting.
Chris
Posted by: Chris Tregenza January 9th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
i hvae alwyas wnatde to knwo if ther wsa a cure for dysleixa i hvae it adn it mkaes me so mad becuaes i hva a hadr time redaing, is ther a cure?
Posted by: anonymos September 20th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Dore seems to be aggresivly advertised for their so called cure , but are there any other sites offering better services/cures? Can one really cure dyslexia? At best one may be able to learn to read or write properly or even learn to concentrate or chanelise his concentration instead of drifting away to another world while he or she may be engaged in a conversation with another person and to get help in these spheres is just fine.You may even learn to walk straight and catch a ball that is thrown at you but what about everything else? the so called treatments may not entirly be a cure but I am sure it will be of help in everyday life if i can concentrate, complete a conversation,spell my words correctly,be able to convey my thoughts successfully to the other person while talking to him/her and do all the other simple things that I find hrad to do today.
If I could afford the Dore “cure” then I would surely try it .The fact is that Dore is not available in my country (India) and even if it was, I cannot afford it at these prices.If Dore is truely that effective how come we dont see “clones” cropping up offering the same “cure” at a cheaper price? There are software available on the internet that help in pronounciation the name is Pronunciation Power 2 try searching for it on google.com .
Posted by: Divya Bhatia March 30th, 2008 at 3:11 am
I am totally agreed with Divya. One cannot deny whatever she has mentioned in her post. Divya, I would like to discuss with you on e-mail. My id is rupali.shah.2007@gmail.com can u please e-mail me?
Posted by: Rupali Shah April 29th, 2008 at 7:12 am
He talks about the Dore program which is now out of business. Unfortunately dyslexia manifests itself with such obvious symptoms such as reading, spelling, poor hand writing, However dyslexia is much more then that. I am dyslexic and it has made my life incredibly difficult and I have had to compensate in order to get by. Compensating is very difficult and takes alot of effort. The problem is that after awhile you become so tired and burned out of compensating that things begin to fall apart. But this problem has affected my personality, my job, my relationships with other people. It has been a very difficult problem to live with. As Harold Levinson says in his book “smart but feeling dumb,” most dyslexics do NOT overcome, or grow out of the problem, without treatment.
Posted by: Keith August 25th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
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