Research into dyslexic reading challenges

A new toolkit of reading books and games is making an impact on how dyslexic children learn to read, and lately released research into the brain may be showing why it is succeeding to such a great degree and why these sorts of reading comprehension strategies make a real difference.

Dyslexia is a condition that remains shrouded in mystery, and yet neuroscientists continue to make little-by-little, progressive steps to appreciate these variations in the brain.

Dr Laurie Glezer, at the Georgetown University Medical Centre has been leading a research project into how the brain processes words. When we read, our brains are immediately able to recognise words because we have stored them in a 'visual dictionary ', and one camp of neuroscientists believes that we can also pick up the sound of the word (phonology) at the same time.

Nevertheless Doctor Glezer's team has been monitoring brain activity while the reading activity takes place, and their discoveries clearly indicate that all we use is the visible information of a word and not the sounds. These observations could help in understanding and treating dyslexia.

Emma Plackett and Helena Rogers of Reading Revival L.T.D have developed a reading tool kit that they claim has constantly helped dyslexic youngsters learn to read when the rest faculties had used had failed. Interestingly, it does not rely on a phonics approach, but encourages kids to build a 'visual dictionary ' of words.

This is accomplished with fastidiously crafted reading books for children, mixing lots of practice with words already learned with a carefully managed sprinkling of new words to extend reading confidence. Not only that, but they have solidly show that a kid with reading problems can reach a reading age of no ability to that of roughly a 7 year old in around 1 to 2 terms.

This new research is now shedding light on why it is vital to take an open-minded approach when deciding the correct way to help a kid to reading fluency. If this easy toolkit can make such a difference using a full word technique, and if it maximizes the brain's natural ability, we should be embracing any way that helps youngsters achieve their learning potential.

Tags: reading revival | learn to read | teach your child to read |




Research into dyslexic reading challenges