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What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia or otherwise known as Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD) is loosely termed word blindness. However, condition termed dyslexia is actually a deficiency in visual or auditory perception. This can take many forms and occur with varying degrees of severity having numerous symptoms all of which reduce the ability of an individual to process educational material. Dyslexia affects between 5% and 10% of people all of whom struggle to meet a learning standard commensurate with their IQ. The picture that has recently emerged that the abnormality is multifactor with some individuals having problems with ocular co ordination, eye movements and decoding the images. Major advances have been made in understanding the processing of images. It is thought that, in dyslexia, there is a problem with the Magnocellular part of the visual pathway. This pathway from the eyes and the brain has been shown as different in Dyslexics. The Magnocellular system carries important information about timing and if incorrectly formed can scramble the information being passed between the eyes and the brain, as if two fax machines that are not quite communicating correctly. This results in distortion or blurring to writing that many dyslexics experience but often do not realise is abnormal.
For someone suffering from dyslexia text can look like this.....
What can help overcome
these difficulties?
The approach to maximising the potential of dyslexic is a multidisciplinary approach. Dyslexia assessment and advise from the Dyslexia Institute, Specific teaching programs, and an often overlooked Assessment by Optometrists that can assess ways of re-synchronising the information gathered by the eyes. Who can help?
Many
Optometrists in the UK have adopted various methods of helping visual
perception. This can take the form of correctly balancing the visual system by
simple eye exercises, spectacles or special filters. These filters seem to
re-arrange the information being passed to the brain by selectively changing the
speed at which the signals are transmitted. These filter have to be individually
prescribed because everyone has different requirements. Unfortunately these very
specific filters can be expensive but have been shown in some cases to
have dramatic effects.
Patient story
Paul aged 9 years
was lagging 2 years behind with his reading and writing. His maths and other
subjects indicated he had an above average IQ. He was becoming increasingly
frustrated at school and was being labeled as “slow” or “thick”. A change in teacher brought about a referral to an Optometrist who had an interest in dyslexia. A thorough examination indicated a scotopic sensitivity and a high index for dyslexia. Analysis with specific filters highlighted an improvement in fluency and speed of reading, and the effect was so marked that the Paul was amazed that “....the words stopped moving and stayed in the same place” he later described it as if “someone had put the bold on the computer”. Analysis over the forthcoming weeks showed an increase in rate of reading of 37% and within 6 months had made up the gap of 2 years and now matched his age profile. Paul now shows an improvement in confidence and his no longer dreading reading aloud in class or partaking in class discussions. His reading and writing pose little difficulties and teacher and parents feel he is now reaching his full potential. Whilst this is not an unusual story, there are some patients that cannot be be helped by filters. The suitability for filters can be determined by a specialised dyslexia assessment by a skilled Optometrist.
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