Towards dyslexia

1999/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

Dennis Mofelse, a psychologist at the University of Southern Illinois, has developed a technique that can predict dyslexia in newborn children. While "listening" to words and sounds recorded by the child, through electrodes, 186 studied the brain waves of newborns. Subsequently, every two years he performed intelligence and understanding tests. Thus, he discovered the differences between children who have followed normal development and those who have developed dyslexia.

The different response to the stimulus is due to the damage suffered by the brain nerves during the fetal era, which are considered cause of dyslexia. Although Dr. Mofelse has not invented in all cases, it seems that this technique is very useful.

Until now, dyslexia was detected when the child was about 8 years old, after many problems. Also, at this age the child's brain is not as flexible as when it was small and treatment is more difficult. The debate now focuses on the treatment to be applied to these newborns with dyslexia.