| As many as 1 person in every 10 has some form | | | | or sets up conditions that allow it to develop is still |
| of dyslexia. Dyslexia is a condition marked by | | | | unclear. |
| difficulties of processing visual data. It results in | | | | Can dyslexia be cured? No. Can it be prevented? |
| problems with reading and with processing certain | | | | Maybe. Can its effects be overcome? Certainly. |
| types of visual information. The causes of | | | | Researchers are working feverishly to understand |
| dyslexia have been under intense study during the | | | | exactly what goes wrong with the neuronal |
| last 25 years. So what do we know about it? | | | | migrations. They want to understand how these |
| What causes dyslexia? Can it be cured? What can | | | | migrations are supposed to work, what makes |
| be done about it? | | | | them go right. And how to prevent any deviations |
| Researchers now believe that, at base, dyslexia is | | | | that may be causes of dyslexia. |
| a neuronal migration disorder that affects the | | | | What can be done about it? A great deal, once |
| development of the human brain. Neurons, the | | | | enough testing has been done to properly identify |
| nerve cells that make up the brain's neural | | | | it. Each case is different, so a detailed diagnosis is |
| network, are developed out of stem cells some | | | | needed to determine the type of dyslexia and its |
| distance from where they need to ultimately end | | | | severity. Armed with that information therapists |
| up. | | | | and teachers can go to work, help the dyslexic to |
| This distance can be many thousands of times | | | | overcome the problems. |
| the diameter of these cells. Proper neural | | | | The human brain is marvelously complex and |
| development requires that these cells migrate, | | | | adaptive. There are multiple neural pathways; if |
| move over from where they are formed, to | | | | one path doesn't work as well as it should, then |
| where they are optimally required to be. In the | | | | another can be developed to compensate. (Follow |
| brains of people with dyslexia, some of these | | | | a link below and read the story of Barry Ball, |
| neural cells have not migrated to their proper | | | | aged 51, to better understand) |
| place, judging by where they are in the brains of | | | | The problem is that 90-95% of adult dyslexics |
| non-dyslexics. Why did this happen? Apparently | | | | are unaware that dyslexia is their problem. Long |
| the causes can be many and varied. | | | | ago they got classified as "slow learners" or "a bit |
| The kind of neuronal migration problem that | | | | dense" and it has followed them all of their lives. |
| apparently causes dyslexia can come from some | | | | They struggle with the condition, try to hide it |
| sort of shock or disruption, or the breakdown and | | | | even, but have come to accept that they are |
| failure of certain signals from the genetic code | | | | "different". |
| that do not get transmitted or interpreted | | | | If they could be tested and diagnosed, there are |
| properly. | | | | ways around almost all of the problems that stem |
| These disruptions do not all share the same | | | | from dyslexia. There is almost nothing that |
| cause. They can be caused by infections, | | | | non-dyslexics can accomplish that diagnosed |
| mechanical injury to the brain, toxic exposure, | | | | dyslexics cannot. So what can be done about it? |
| intrauterine strokes, even by genetic factors. | | | | We can continue to study, research and better |
| However, in all cases, they reflect an upset to the | | | | understand the causes of dyslexia. |
| developing brain during gestation, some time | | | | Anyone with any possibilities of having the |
| between 16 and 24 weeks. Thus whether or not | | | | condition should be tested. Once tested, if any |
| a given individual will be dyslexic appears to have | | | | dyslexia is found, they should be thoroughly |
| already been determined well before they are | | | | diagnosed. And then started on the road to |
| born. | | | | overcoming their dyslexic problems, realizing their |
| There is also a genetic link. Recent studies | | | | full potential and living a full, joyous and |
| suggest that the gene known as DCDC2 may be | | | | prosperous life! |
| a major causative factor in up to 20 percent of | | | | For additional info about dyslexia and the causes |
| dyslexia cases. Whether the gene causes dyslexia | | | | of dyslexia, follow the links below... |