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Dyslexia - the reason for 55% of children failing |
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Friday, 14 March 2008 |
The news today about the latest government funded research linking dyslexia to the failure of 55% of 7 to 11 year old children in reading and writing tests comes as no surprise. A 1980’s study by the NIESR showed over 70% of school children were underperforming relative to their potential, 32% seriously so.
In the Hull University research, 55% of the children studied did not achieve expected levels of reading and writing in SATS tests. Over half the sample group displayed all the signs of being dyslexic.
Predictably, this new study has led to calls for more specialist teaching by specially trained dyslexia teachers. It would be far better to actually treat the underlying cause of the problem – developmental delay - rather than teach the child coping mechanisms with only varying degrees of succes. Dyslexia is just one of the symptoms arising from neuro developmental delay and any amount of additional teaching will not help any of the other issues associated with the condition – difficulties in concentration, accompanying dyspraxic tendencies, a tendency to over adrenalise (in turn leading to short term memory problems) all leading subtle, if inevitable, issues with self esteem.
At my clinic I see hundreds of children and adults all of whom suffer from undiagnosed dyslexia. In virtually all cases they can be helped and they will be reading normally within 3-4 months with this being underpinned by further improvements, typically in 8-9 months.
This is definitely a case of treat don’t teach. www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7295719.stm
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Thursday, 17 January 2008 |
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We have recently upgraded and updated our informaiton on ADHD(Attention Deficit Disorder + Hyperactivity Disorder.
There is plenty of information on our web site and lots more generally around on the internet. However, every case of ADD or ADHD is invariably different. Please call me for more information and to understand your unique case.
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Caesaerean Births - Not as straight forward as they may seem. |
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Thursday, 17 January 2008 |
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There is an interesting article here on the TImes Online detailing risk factors during Caesarean births.
Caesarean Births
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Welcome to the David Mulhall Blog |
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Thursday, 17 January 2008 |
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Welcome to the David Mulhall blog. Find out all the latest that is happening at the David Mulhall Centre. The latest news. Breakthroughs, successes and general interest information about our work.
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Wednesday, 01 August 2007 |
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For those looking for more information on ADHD this radio show on BBC Radio 4 is very useful.
ADHD on Check Up BBC radio 4 15th August 2007
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Wednesday, 01 November 2006 |
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Be sure to check out Panorama this week which is featureing ADHD. In the panorama episode reporter Shelley Jofre reveals that after a decade of rocketing
prescription rates, new research shows that giving children drugs works
no better, in the long term, than doing nothing.
Learn more about the Panorama episode here.
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Boys, Brains and Toxic Lessons |
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Wednesday 23 January 2008
In a very interesting article,The Times looks at Dr Leonard Sax's latest book "Boys Adrift" in which he argues that boys and girls are programmed to learn in different ways. As such the current co-educational approach employed in most schools favours girls at the expense of boy's. As such, it is accounts in large measure for the under-performance of boys.
The book should be read by both teachers and parents who seek to understand how better to engage the young male mind.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/ news/uk/education/article3234354.ece
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/ news/uk/education/article3234365.ece
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