Child Dyslexic? Early Detection Is Key! New Brain Scan Promising!

Dyslexia, a learning disorder in children, is characterized by difficulty reading. Unfortunately, it's not usually diagnosed until a child is in second or third grade and by that time, he or she may have endured humiliation and a loss of self-esteem, i.e., "you're stupid, dumb... etc." when that's hardly the case. This is why early detection is so important.

Up to 17% of all children will suffer from dyslexia.

A team of researchers from Children's Hospital Boston say that they can detect dyslexia in brain scans of children who are only four or five years old--and that's great news because younger children respond better to treatment than their older counterparts. The other advantage? Early detection spares these children the humiliation that they may have endured had they entered school without being diagnosed. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Symptoms of dyslexia: If you have a young child, learn the symptoms which may include (according to the Mayo Clinic):

1. Late talking
2. Learning new words slowly
3. Difficulty rhyming

*For more information on dyslexic symptoms: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dyslexia/DS00224/DSECTION=symptoms

If you notice that your child is having difficulty with language at an early age, don't wait! Call your pediatrician to inquire about an early diagnosis of his or her condition. Don't let them put you off!

Nadine Gaab, Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience at Children's Hospital Boston, says her study is too small to warrant a test for dyslexia, however, she has received a grant to pursue her research--and that's good news! And there's no reason why you can't call her at Children's Hospital for more information!