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Dyslexic brains try harder
Parents and teachers probably had a gut feel about this all along, but now science proves it: The brain of a child with the reading disorder dyslexia has to work harder to process the same material as everyone else.
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But researchers from the University of Washington say that can be changed with treatment.
Dyslexia stems from a defect in the brain's ability to process graphic symbols and causes difficulty with reading and spoken language. Dyslexics generally have trouble with sequences of numbers or letters and often confuse left and right, the researchers say.
Through brain imaging, the researchers found that a dyslexic's brain uses four times more energy than a non-dyslexic. However, after a three-week treatment involving phonics work and hands-on learning, the researchers say the dyslexic children's brains changed as the children learned until they used only 1.8 times more energy.
"We scanned their brains with a new technique which allows us to measure functional activity," says researcher Todd Richards. Results of the study appear in the Journal of Neuroradiology.
Richards and his colleague Virginia Berninger, a neuropsychologist, recruited 15 boys, ages 8 to 13 - eight dyslexic and seven not. They tested only one sex because male and female brains process information differently, they say. Richards says they plan to look at girls in future studies.
The dyslexic and non-dyslexic boys had similar IQ scores. While the non-dyslexic boys had above-average reading skills, the dyslexic boys read at levels well below average for their age.
All 15 had spectroscopic images taken of their brains. The technique measures brain chemicals and is fast enough to capture changes that occur while a person is thinking, Richards says.
The initial imaging showed that the dyslexic boys' brains had to work four times as hard as the other boys' to process the same sounds.
The dyslexic group then started a 15-session program designed by Berninger to take advantage of their expressed interest in science. She blended proven elements of current phonologically based treatments with hands-on science workshops. Details of her program will be published in the fall in the Learning Disability Quarterly.
One year later, when the boys all were imaged again, the dyslexic brains had changed and "were almost down to normal [in activity]," Richards says.
The dyslexic children's reading abilities also improved, and all but one were able to read grade-appropriate passages, the study says.
What to do
Dyslexia is not easy to spot at first, partly because kids are very adept at covering the problem. They may memorise passages they ask their parents to read to them so the next day in school they can "read" aloud.
He suggests watching for behavioural problems. Kids with dyslexia "begin to feel very different, very stupid, and they often begin to act very badly," Viall says. Kids may start having to leave class to go to the bathroom a lot, or they may complain they don't feel well, he says.
Other signs might include delayed speech, some delayed gross motor development and trouble recognizing phonological sounds. For example, if you ask a 6-year-old to come up with a rhyme for bat and hat, and your child says train, there could be a problem, he says.
It's important to catch dyslexia early, Viall says. Kindergarten through third grade is ideal, because it's much harder for youngsters to catch up after that, he says.
"You've got to use different techniques to teach these kids because their brains don't process the same way. These are learning differences, not disabilities," Viall says.
And Richards says, "Parents need to know that there is hope, and there are techniques for learning out there."
To see the full study online, including copies of the brain scans, visit the Web site of the University of Washington.
For more on dyslexia, including treatment options, visit the International Dyslexia Association or call them at (800) ABCD123 for a menu of taped messages.
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