New treatment spells success for dyslexics

By STUART DYE

David Whyte's epiphany came as he sat in a restaurant and gazed across the road at a shop sign.

"I can read it - I understand the letters," said the stunned 28-year-old.

Mr Whyte has spent his life battling dyslexia, never able to distinguish letters or understand how they formed words.

He is not alone; Orlando Bloom, Richard Branson and Steven Spielberg are among a string of high profile dyslexics, and experts estimate 10 per cent of all New Zealand children suffer with a form of the neurological disorder.

The day before the restaurant visit that changed his life, Mr Whyte had begun a new programme for treating dyslexia from US expert Ron Davis.

"I had been through every other system under the sun with no success, then this was like a lightbulb going on. It was a major breakthrough," said Mr Whyte.

The scientist and father of two young daughters works for Sensortec, a research and technology company.

He faced a daily fight against dyslexia and his childhood had been spent with people telling him to work harder.

Ron Davis arrived in New Zealand on Sunday to give a series of lectures in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton.

Mr Davis, considered autistic from infancy, grew up labelled a dummy at home and a mental retard at school. Despite his severe learning disabilities he became a successful engineer, businessman and sculptor.

He was functionally illiterate until the age of 38 when he discovered a method that allowed him to read a book without struggling.

His programme works on the basis that dyslexia is not a disorder to be treated, but a talent to be embraced. The lateral, multi-dimensional pattern of the dyslexic brain is used as an asset rather than a problem to be solved.

Catherine Churton, who teaches the programme in New Zealand, said the results have been staggering.

"Aged eight to 58 we are seeing a success rate of about 97 per cent with students gaining confidence and a higher sense of self-esteem in the process," she said.

James Foster, secretary of the Specific Learning Disabilities Federation, said the term dyslexia covered a multitude of neurological problems that led to learning difficulties.

He said if dyslexia in children went unrecognised, they became experts at avoiding the issue.

Workshop

Ron Davis speaks at a workshop in Hamilton today. Parents and teachers are welcome.

Contact: SPELD WAIKATO (07) 834 3109