Blue Ridge Dyslexia Notes

Dyslexia is a result of how an individual's brain is structured. Functional MRIs (fMRI) show colored imaging of brain activation. In individuals diagnosed with dyslexia, fMRIs reveal under activation of brain regions responsible for processing sounds (phonology) and understanding word structures (orthography), which are critical to interpreting print.

Dr. Sally Shaywitz, co-founder of the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, has greatly advanced the understanding of dyslexia. Her research using fMRI imaging discovered significant differences in brain activation during reading. The brain processing of strong readers revealed efficient use of neuro-pathways connecting the areas responsible for vision and reading. The neuro-pathways of weaker readers were not nearly as direct.

In the video below, Whoopi Goldberg talks about her personal experience with dyslexia and early experiences not being able to read, not fitting in, as well as being labeled lazy and stupid because of her learning struggles.

While Whoopi struggled with basic reading, she could easily learn things she heard. She explains how her brain processes things differently because of her dyslexia: "The advantage is my brain sees and puts information in my head differently, more interestingly than if I saw like everyone else."

Whoopi is one of only 20 individuals to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar & Tony awards.

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.

Licensed Dyslexia Therapist

District Dyslexia Coordinator

Blue Ridge ISD

Email: leslie.patterson@brisd.net
Website: http://www.brisd.net/
Location: 318 W. School St., Blue Ridge, TX
Phone: 972-752-5554