"Researchers who have monitored a new treatment for dyslexia today hailed it "as close to a cure as there is".
Academics at Exeter University, who have been monitoring the technique, made up of a series of exercises, at Balsall Common primary school in Solihull, West Midlands, for two years, said the work of pupils with learning difficulties improved faster than that of their peers during the treatment and the year after.
"They were still behind the others kids, but they improved by more than the non-special needs kids in the schools," said Professor David Reynolds, who led the monitoring of the technique. "They hadn't caught up, but their learning was quicker. That's extraordinary."
He added: "We looked at the kids a year after they had treatment and the gains were maintained. It was remarkable. In most studies the improvements haven't lasted."
The treatment focuses on the back part of the brain, the cerebellum, which is long understood to be responsible for balance and co-ordination. More recently scientists have come to believe it is also responsible for the way in which reading and writing becomes an automatic process for people.
The treatment helps to exercise the cerebellum through balancing techniques, which in turn strengthen the ability to learn. Pupils might have to learn how to balance on a wobbly board, or throw a bean bag from one hand to the other.
"It's as close to a cure as we've come so far, but there is still variation between kids," said Professor Reynolds.
"I started as a cynic because my own background is educational treatments for dyslexia-type problems. We developed lots of hoops for it [the treatment] to jump through and each time it jumped every one. It's good science.""
-- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/
"Invest in a company any idiot can run because sooner or later any idiot is going to run it." - Warren Buffet
_______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
