Dyslexia Seen In Brain Scans of Pre-School Children

dryriver writes "Brain scans may allow detection of dyslexia in pre-school children even before they start to read, say researchers. A U.S. team found tell-tale signs on scans that have already been seen in adults with the condition. And these brain differences could be a cause rather than a consequence of dyslexia — something unknown until now — the Journal of Neuroscience reports. Scans could allow early diagnosis and intervention, experts hope. The part of the brain affected is called the Arcuate Fasciculus. Among the 40 school-entry children they studied they found some had shrinkage of this brain region, which processes word sounds and language. They asked the same children to do several different types of pre-reading tests, such as trying out different sounds in words. Those children with a smaller Arcuate Fasciculus had lower scores."

And a dollar short

[djupedal]

My dyslexia forced me to work harder in school at things others found easy. I was confused for a few years until I realized not everyone had my issues. Once I adapted, I started jumping grades and moving ahead. There are things about it that can be leveraged in terms of learning, after all.

Finding issues like this out early can be a blessing or a curse depending on how the parents and the school system react. If it's used to hang a 'problem learner' sign on a kid and just stick them in a corner, I say it's a curse. If it's used to support a tailored teaching environment, it would be a blessing.

Another cause of dyslexia

[Anonymous Coward]

A large percentage of dyslexia cases can be corrected through the use of colored lenses. Evidently in these cases dyslexia is caused by certain colors being transmitted to the wrong areas of the brain. Filter out these colors and a person can suddenly start reading. See irlen.com for more information. I am in no way affiliated with the site but know from personal experience that this works.

Wouldn't help

[roc97007]

When we discovered my daughter had a reading problem, I paid for comprehensive tests, delivered the results to the school, (she had severe dyslexia -- the doctors said she probably wouldn't ever read past third grade level) and was told flatly by school officials that they didn't recognize Dyslexia as a condition. That their diagnosis (a school giving a medical diagnosis? never mind...) was that she was hyperactive and had a problem with authority. They suggested Ritalin. I pointed out that an independent psychologist hadn't found any signs of hyperactivity. They stuck to their guns.

So, maybe I'm being overly cynical, but I suspect this new test will just give them another datum to ignore.

But who knows, maybe it depends on the school system.