Neurological deficits and dyslexia

Two commonly held beliefs about dyslexia are that children with it are prone to seeing letters or words backward, and that the problem is linked to intelligence. Both beliefs are incorrect. The problem is a linguistic (of language and the processing of language) one, not a visual one. And dyslexia in no way stems from any lack of intelligence. People with severe dyslexia can be brilliant.

The effects of dyslexia, in fact, vary from person to person. The only shared trait among people with dyslexia is that they read at levels significantly lower than typical for people of their age.

A child with dyslexia will struggle with age appropriate reading, cognitively processing information heard or read and recalling/retrieving information learned.

If we understand that the effects of dyslexia are caused by processing errors in the brain or faulty wiring, it follows that we can eliminate or vastly improve those effects by addressing the problems neurologically.

The past 5-10 years have seen an explosion in research focusing on the relationship of cognitive functioning, processing of information and the neuro-plasticity of the brain. Scientists and neurologists have determined that the brain possesses the ability to “re-wire” around damaged or non-functioning areas and to build new neuro-pathways to improve performance.

A neurologically based program designed to strengthen the brain’s ability to process, store and correctly retrieve information would be the first intervention recommended by The Therapy Group.