There is some debate as to whether Perceptual Dyslexia is a real condition amongst the general public, academics and even Doctors. The reality is that the evidence for Perceptual Dyslexia is vast, the evidence confirmed by countless studies.
Research
Research at Yale University School of Medicine using MRI and SPECT scans has been able to offer concrete evidence that the brains of Dyslexics differ when attempting to process language from those without the condition.
A key study involved comparing the scans of Dyslexics and non-Dyslexics whilst they sounded out letters and words:
- Good readers Activation in the back of the brain
- Dyslexic readers Under activation in the back of the brain & Over activation in the front of the brain
The Dyslexic brain works much harder and expands much more energy than the non-Dyslexics when attempting to process language.
In the case of Perceptual Dyslexia the symptoms can be effectively treated using the Irlen Method (See Testing and treating Perceptual Dyslexia).
Irlen Method
Brain scans show that by using Irlen lenses whilst conducting these studies, the amount of energy expended during language processing drops significantly. This is clear neurological evidence for the successes observed with this treatment and provides evidence to support the reality of Perceptual Dyslexia.
