Dyxlexia: From Vicious Cycle to Opportunity

Do you know someone who's really smart, but struggles with reading, writing, math, or sports? Someone whose performance in some areas is far below their competence in others? Dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, hyperlexia... these terms, and many others, refer to frustrating, often heartbreaking limitations.

Dyslexia can be corrected! In fact, the same mechanisms that cause problems can be used to advantage--once the dyslexic knows how to control them.

Chris Phoenix's second career was in dyslexia correction. He will present a model of dyslexia as a vicious cycle between perceptual distortion, learning disability, and learned reactions.

The model explains:

• Why there are so many related conditions, and so many symptoms.
• Why dyslexics are often exceptionally smart and accomplished.
• Why there are so many wacky treatments and interventions

In addition, Chris will give a brief overview of the Davis Method of dyslexia correction, and discuss some pilot studies he performed to explore a key part of the theory: rapid perceptual shifts that are controlled by an "undocumented feature" of the brain--which most dyslexics use without knowing it!

The takeaway message is that the brain mechanisms which cause dyslexic problems--perceptual distortions--can be brought under conscious control. Once this is done, the same mechanisms--now applied as perceptual flexibility--can be used to enhance performance in a wide variety of skills.

Chris will also be giving several other talks at this BIL conference.