I have been a reading tutor for many years and I have often observed children who have great difficulty learning to read. I have also observed that over time, the ones who simply accept that reading is always going to take them much more time and effort than those around them are much more likely to realize their potential – many with college and graduate degrees and successful careers. I am always distressed by the children who struggle along thinking that they are doing something wrong or are just too dumb to learn and eventually drop out of school.
I was excited to see this new study at Yale that indicates that dyslexia is a lifelong condition that cannot be”cured” by more instruction. I believe that some children will NEVER test very well though they may be very bright and creative.
Contrary to popular belief, some very smart, accomplished people cannot read well. This unexpected difficulty in reading in relation to intelligence, education and professional status is called dyslexia, and researchers at Yale School of Medicine and University of California Davis, have presented new data that explain how otherwise bright and intelligent people struggle to read.
The study, which will be published in the January 1, 2010 issue of the journal Psychological Science, provides a validated definition of dyslexia. “For the first time, we’ve found empirical evidence that shows the relationship between IQ and reading over time differs for typical compared to dyslexic readers,” said Sally E. Shaywitz, M.D., the Audrey G. Ratner Professor in Learning Development at Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics, and co-director of the newly formed Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity.
Read complete article: Dyslexia defined: New Yale study ‘uncouples’ reading and IQ over time « Blogs « Literacy News.
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