DYSLEXIA UNLOCKED?

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DYSLEXIA UNLOCKED?

by menhir @ 14 Dec. 2006 – 21:32:23

Andrew ~Tolmie reported recently in The Scotsman that there appears to be a genetic breakthrough in research into dyslexia.

Edinburgh University scientists report, following a twenty year study, that they have unravelled the gene sequence that determines a person's ability to work with letters and numbers. The findings suggest that those children likely to be severely affected, can be identified before birth. The article indicates that any child identified before birth who is born with severe dyslexia, could be registered for assistance. This of course, will enable children to grow into more fulfilled adults if they are identified early and so get assistance with their dyslexia much sooner than has been the case for many up till now.

(Co- Author of the Edinburgh University report, Dr Timothy Bates)
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33 Comments to DYSLEXIA UNLOCKED?

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- Usksider ^Pro
- http://www.usksider.co.uk
- 14 Dec. 2006 @ 21:41:05
Well if this works it'll benefit quite a lot of young people, won't it? Dyslexia often drags on undetected for years and years. Indeed some people are never correctly diagnosed.
- - menhir
  - 15 Dec. 2006 @ 00:12:05
  Too true - but what happens to those young people who do not show up in the womb under the 'severe' category though nevertheless are disadvantaged by varying degrees of dyslexia; we know they exist too. Then of course, there are sadly, incidents of problems at birth that may have a similar effect.
  
  I hope that the focus does not shift in an unbalanced manner because of this very useful and interesting development. The findings could always be used as an excuse for restricting the giving of resources, that must be guarded against.
  - - Usksider ^Pro
    - http://www.usksider.co.uk
    - 15 Dec. 2006 @ 07:07:52
    Yes a good point. If I had my way all kids would be tested at the primary education stage in an effort to 'catch' as many as possible and give the extra help they need.
    - - menhir
      - 15 Dec. 2006 @ 09:52:31
      Some kids suddenly develop out of their clam shells about the age of 8 years so it can be difficult to assess dyslexia very early on. In addition, the majority of youngsters grow through a 'dyslexic' period of drawing numerals and letters, particularly the 'b' and the 'd'. I suppose, though not being an expert myself on the subject, that assessment in ernest, of the so-called unknowns or possibles, should start as a matter of course about the age of 7.5. My own personal veiw is that leaving it any later will lose completely a child's interest in school, the lagging behind will show up and affect a young child.
      
      The various interest groups, the British Society of Dyslexia are the people probably best able to give knowledgeable input into this debate.
      - Usksider ^Pro
        
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        15 Dec. 2006 @ 11:03:05
        
        My experience with dyslexia is minimal, but I am aware how far reaching the effects can be. The way I look at it, any progress has to be good.
        
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        menhir
        
        15 Dec. 2006 @ 11:35:00
        
        I'm 100% with you on that thought. Maybe you have read some of the comments and replies. From this blog's small input alone, I see and think more awareness can do no harm, it can in fact offer the reverse, a lot of future good.
        
        There are graduated levels of difficulties in many areas, we all achieve our potential in graduated ways. Some people with a little bit of the appropriate support, will achieve a wider potential than they may have done without it, that has to be good for everyone.
        
        I have come across adults who describe themselves as being 'a bit dyslexic'. Usually that tells you that an individual has a memory problem with spelling, not dyslexia. It is unhelpful that people latch on to the term to excuse another problem. It also confuses the general understanding of what dyslexia really is.
        
        As I have said in my replies, unless there's other problems, any true dyslexics I have met, I have been motivated, inspirational and clever people.
        
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        Usksider ^Pro
        
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        15 Dec. 2006 @ 13:46:43
        
        Spot on! Dyslexia is a specific condition, generally misunderstood by the public at large.
        
        We have quite a number of dyslexic students at the university and I don't know any who are less intelligent or less motivated than the so called 'norm'. On the other hand I know many who are extremely intelligent people and often far more motivated than their 'normal' colleagues.
        
        Of course this raises another question for me: what is 'normal'? Perhaps best not to go there...
        
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        menhir
        
        15 Dec. 2006 @ 17:43:17
        
        Yes- that is a questionable question.
        
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        Usksider ^Pro
        
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        15 Dec. 2006 @ 20:16:33
        
        Isn't it though? One I don't have an answer to.
        
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        menhir
        
        15 Dec. 2006 @ 20:23:32
        
        Someone probably does, based on statistical evaluations of a variety of skills, processes and whatever else is used as an acceptable variable.
        
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        Usksider ^Pro
        
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        15 Dec. 2006 @ 20:35:38
        
        Ah; lies, damn lies and statistics!
        
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        menhir
        
        15 Dec. 2006 @ 20:38:23
        
        What's new?
        
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        Usksider ^Pro
        
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        15 Dec. 2006 @ 20:46:10
        
        Nothing under the sun.....
        
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        menhir
        
        15 Dec. 2006 @ 22:42:53
        
        Sadly...
        
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- mad-poet
- 14 Dec. 2006 @ 21:58:10
I am 58 and still dont know if i am dyslexic or just crap at speling
- - menhir
  - 15 Dec. 2006 @ 00:14:59
  Well now MP, 'crap' is okay, 'dyslexic' is fine, your age looks good too. My guess is the 'know', as in knowledge, is alright as well. We all have an occasional lapse with the double consonants.
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- deleted user (Visitor)
- 14 Dec. 2006 @ 22:09:26
It would help if it was better recognised at school as well. But this could be good news.
- - menhir
  - 15 Dec. 2006 @ 00:16:50
  I am fully in accord with your thoughts L_L
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- skip2468
- 15 Dec. 2006 @ 00:21:20
The earlier that children's problems are diagnosed and if possible treated, the better for all concerned. However, a balance must be kept with the provision of medical services to be fair to all.
- - menhir
  - 15 Dec. 2006 @ 10:02:57
  Would dyslexia be a medical service Skip? I view it more as a social service. I do not know of any dyslexic individual, unless they have other disabilites as well, who does not have enormous abilities. These individuals are worth the extra bit of nurturing for the good of themselves and society at large. Dyslexics develop other skills and senses (rather like blind people) that we mortals with all our general faculties intact, do not.
  
  Do you know of Susan Hampshire - a very fine actress indeed? She became a focus of the public eye when she performed a major role in a classical TV series in the 1980's. She, a dyslexic, learned all her lines by listening to tapes. In her days, there was not the understanding and tolerance you can find today. Susan Hampshire must have had very enlightened and encouraging parents. There is no doubt she is a very educated lady. She does a lot of background work for dyslexics.
  - - skip2468
    - 15 Dec. 2006 @ 10:13:14
    In this country the total expense falls on the taxpayer regardless of what name one decides to give to the sevice.
    
    I'm off to bed after rather a busy day..........goodnight.
    - - menhir
      - 15 Dec. 2006 @ 10:22:28
      That point applies here too. By supporting dyslexics, who in the main, are resourceful and clever individuals, we help to create useful citizens who contribute to society and become taxpayers themselves.
      
      Have a good night. Sweet dreams...zzzzz Zzzzzz zzz
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- suzeemoon
- http://suzeemoon.friendpages.com/
- 15 Dec. 2006 @ 20:01:38
Fascinating piece of research! Of course naming needs can give rights so whole issue of 'statementing' or similar becomes something LEAs can try to avoid. Short-term thinking by politicians means that preventive measures tend to be bottom of pile.
I know of child recently diagnosed and school trying to claim it doesn't count because her first language isn't English!

I too had problems with B&D and wrote other letters backwards. My sister actually mirror-wrote. We're both lefties.
- - menhir
  - 15 Dec. 2006 @ 20:20:45
  Left of what?
  
  It is criminal to avoid responsibilities because of a first or second language. I take it, if the girl was found to be dyslexic, her oral use of the second language was pretty good in every other way, otherwise, the diagnosis could not have been securely made.
  
  I came across three brothers who lived in the Middle East and went to English schools. The youngest was fine, the two eldest were getting totally confused with sounds and mother was unsure whether she had two dyslexic boys or not. She returned home with all three and the other two were found to need scribes. One worked well with his memory abilities eventually, though still had problems with writing.
  
  Another mum in a similar position had two boys who needed help. Though the schools were English, there was no special needs support available and there was no choice but to come home and leave husbands behind.
  
  The point of the examples is twofold. One, differing language sounds can and do upset further an existing condition. Two, while the excuse of the second language in the case of the girl you mentioned, was dubious, there may be cases where this could be an issue, particularly if the children were not introduced to other sounds early on. The brain has to process the new language together with the way it is written and if it is a totally different script, Arabic,Cyrillic etc. then it may need time to process all of this, visually, aurally and orally. Given a bit of time, an honest assessment can be made though I wonder if it might need two people to do it; one from each language concerned, who both have the ability to assess dyslexia in their languages.
  - - suzeemoon
    - http://suzeemoon.friendpages.com/
    - 16 Dec. 2006 @ 16:09:49
    Left of the Labour Party as well as left-handed!
    
    Child is actually first-language Welsh with determined and educated parents - School not wanting to accept the privately arranged test results is just their position. Testing is sophisticated enough to work around language issue.
    
    I can see challenge of another language that uses a totally different script.
    - - menhir
      - 16 Dec. 2006 @ 22:51:04
      Isn't is awful, the trials and tribulations families and kids are put through to obtain sensible, foresighted assistance. One assumes, given the circumstances you describe, that this child would turn into a useful and responsible adult with the right support.
      - pollygarter
        
        19 Dec. 2006 @ 21:07:47
        
        I'm sure she will be supported. She is fortunate enough to have parents with money, clout and understanding to get support outside the school system.
        
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        menhir
        
        19 Dec. 2006 @ 21:51:51
        
        That kind of closes the circle I have been drawing around and in, in my comments to the discussion about the research on dyslexia. Whilst not all children with the condition can be in the apparently fortunate position of the child you mention, there is far more likelihood of the parent/s understanding there is a familial and familiar difficulty which they can then push to have addressed. It may be less straightforward with one parent families where the missing parent may have had the condition. Sadly, there are always those who fall through nets. Having said that though, it is amazing how many dyslexics who have missed out, find a route through, sometimes through accident, to levels of fulfilment.
        
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- deleted user (Visitor)
- 19 Dec. 2006 @ 18:33:19
Am I the only one cynical enough to suggest that the discovery of this genetic information might ultimately lead to more children being aborted?

GB
- - menhir
  - 19 Dec. 2006 @ 19:34:18
  GB - I sincerely hope you are the only one. You do have a serious thought there and it applies equally to other conditions that already can be diagnosed before birth. Dyslexia, as far as I know, is an hereditary condition in the forms being discussed, and parents will already have some of their own insights into what it means and has meant for them.
  
  My own view here is that, though a legitimate point, I do not think it would become or be allowed to become a reason for abortion. After all, the majority of dylexics (who have no other disabilities) will know what they have achieved in their own lives and there is no reason why their offspring should not be able and enabled to lead enriched lives I mentioned already, Susan Hampshire, there is also Richard Branson. I do not believe people such as these would even dream up the thought. The idiocy here, lies with the gatekeeping of the resources that might be required to give us superb citizens of the future.
  - - deleted user (Visitor)
    - 19 Dec. 2006 @ 20:04:19
    I hope you're right menhir, I hope you're right.....
    
    GB
    - - menhir
      - 19 Dec. 2006 @ 20:17:08
      Aye to that.
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- Allinn
- 11 Apr. 2008 @ 21:16:29
Dear Friends,

I am connected with an organisation called The Learning People, who have launched a UK petition on the Downing Street website to reclassify dyslexia as a thinking style rather than a disability.

You can access further information about the campaign, and sign up for newsletter updates, on our blogsite at http://www.dyslexia-gift.org.uk

If you are a UK resident or ex-pat British citizen, you can sign the petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk

Please help us publicise the campaign by telling everyone you know, and by passing the word around any other relevant networking groups you subscribe to.

Our sincerest thanks,

Tatjana Lavrova
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