Many children are on medication for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. In many cases, medication can be avoided. There are a number of promising alternative treatments to medication, which I plan to discuss in future posts. In this post, I plan to discuss a most unusual and unexpected treatment.
The cerebellum is a part of the brain that lies roughly at the back of the brain and underneath the visual cortex. Early research found the cerebellum to be involved in balance, motor coordination, equilibrium, and posture. More recent research has implicated the cerebellum in a more broad range of cognitive and mental functioning, particularly attention, language and music processing, and other sensory processing.
Astronauts are known to develop a form of temporary dyslexia as a result of prolonged weightlessness, which is treated with having the astronauts perform a number of tasks involving balance and motor coordination. These techniques are thought to have their effects of cerebellar processing. The techniques were adapted for use with children suffering from dyslexia. A recent study provided astonishing evidence of the programs effectiveness, although future research remains to be conducted to validate the technique. Notably, the study found a great improvement in concentration for children with ADHD who were being treated for dyslexia. Improvements were found in 80% of the children involved in the program.
http://www.dore.co.uk/cure.aspx
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June 1, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Liz Ditz
1. The Dore “miracle cure” for dyslexia (and ADHD, and autism…) has been widely criticized for the complete lack of evidence of efficacy. I have a fairly complete list of the scholarly and lay critiques of the Dore approach here.
2. As of mid-May, all Dore programs world-wide have shut down following financial irregularities. Ben Goldacre, the Bad Science blogger, has two pieces on the Dore collapse marketing faulty science and Bloggers dig for truth
3. The “temporary dyslexia” allegedly suffered by astronauts is just a myth, widely promoted by Dore’s organization. In 2001, NASA issued this advisory (it has since been removed from the FAQ pages so the URL no longer resolves):
“Q. I heard that NASA has a treatment for dyslexia, how can I get more information?
A.Due to recent articles in the British press, namely “The Independent”, that describe a new treatment for dyslexia that utilizes “Space research, in the form of computerised balance tests given to returning astronauts and corrective exercises that reintroduce stability after weightlessness”, we have received numerous requests for information concerning this research.
“In response, the Acting NASA Chief Health and Medical Officer, Richard S. Williams MD, has issued the following statement:
“In our experience, the prolonged exposure of Astronauts to the microgravity environment of space flight does not give rise to any physical symptoms or signs that would suggest dyslexia. To the best of our knowledge, NASA is not funding or engaging in research concerning dyslexia. Similarly, we do not have (or are unaware of) evidence that any of our medical or rehabilitative interventions for the Astronauts might be effective in treating dyslexia.”
June 2, 2008 at 8:49 pm
thecountryshrink
Liz, thank you for your comments. I was not aware of all of the critiques. This is something to keep in mind when you hear about research that sounds too good to be true. While you may be correct in noting a complete lack of evidence for efficacy, this is not the same as a complete lack of evidence that the technique might prove beneficial. There are published research studies that show some benefit to the technique. Studies of efficacy require a certain research design that is considered to be the “gold standard” by many academic researchers. However, clinicians in the “trenches” so to speak put a little less stock in efficacy research because of lack of generalizability to “the real world.” Anyway, thank you for your detective work, and I’m sure many readers will find it beneficial as they consider their options.