Biological Ideas

Some researchers have identified certain sections of human genetic code that identify dyslexia. One of our main findings is that dyslexia is inherited. If your parents are dyslexic, there’s a fair chance you may be dyslexic as well. This research is in very early stages.

Other researchers have looked closely at how the nerves and different parts of the brain are organised. Some have suggested that it is a “timing” problem. Specialist cells in the brain help us make sense of the world by organising information from our senses. It is important that this is kept in the correct time and order. The special cells may not do this properly if you are dyslexic.

The parts of the brain that help us process and understand language may cause dyslexia. Scientists have suggested that a link between the area of the brain that allows us to recognise “whole” words and the part that breaks words down in to the different sounds is not well developed.

We have found that our brain’s language centres are linked closely with the section of the brain that controls movement. This is tied in with the idea that when we learn a new skill we eventually do it “automatically”. When we first learn to drive a car we have to concentrate hard. After we have been driving for a while, we no longer have to concentrate so hard. The action of driving has become “automatic”. Some researchers suggest that dyslexic people find similar difficulties in learning to read. For example, using “flash” cards to help children “automatically” recognise words may not work so well with dyslexic children.