Dyslexia and Visuospatial Processing Strengths: 
New Research Sheds Light

By Carolyn Cowen

 Do people with dyslexia have superior “visuospatial processing” abilities compared to those without dyslexia?

It is an intriguing question. Anecdotal reports and clinical observations dating back to the earliest days of dyslexia’s discovery1 support the popular belief that dyslexia has upsides, particularly in visuospatial domains. Now, science is providing tantalizing new hints that might move […]

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• Learning Differences
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DSM-5 Changes in Diagnostic Criteria for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD): What are the Implications?


By Rosemary Tannock, Ph.D.




Q: What is SLD1 according to DSM-5?

A: DSM-5 considers SLD to be a type of Neurodevelopmental Disorder2 that impedes the ability to learn or use specific academic skills (e.g., reading, writing, or arithmetic), which are the foundation for other academic learning. The learning difficulties are ‘unexpected’ in that other aspects of development seem […]

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• Research-Based/Evidence-Based

Seven Steps For Helping Your Children

By Alice Thomas

Listen to your children. Hear what their actions, emotions and silence are communicating in addition to their words.
Educate yourself. Learn all you can about the components of the learning process and how they interact. Read books. Go to lectures and seminars. Learn about your child’s unique learning profile. Learn about the services available […]

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• Learning Differences

Helping Your Struggling Student – Become An Informed Consumer When Seeking An Evaluation

By Glenda Thorne and Alice Thomas

“I know my child is smart, but he continues to struggle with some of his schoolwork, and it’s getting worse now that he’s in fourth grade. His teachers aren’t sure what the problem is – one said he’s not trying hard enough, and another one said he’s not motivated, but I […]

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What Is Dyslexia?

By Glenda Thorne, Ph.D.

More often than not, people think that dyslexia is a problem with seeing letters or words backwards and/or writing letters or words backwards. Dyslexia is not a deficit in the visual processing system; however, it is a language processing problem. The hallmark characteristic of dyslexia is a breakdown in what is called […]

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Learning Disabilities And Early Intervention Strategies

by G. Reid Lyon Ph.D.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

Statement by G. Reid Lyon, Ph.D. Chief, Child Development and Behavior Branch National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

On LEARNING DISABILITIES AND EARLY INTERVENTION STRATEGIES For Subcommittee on Education Reform Committee on Education and the Workforce U.S. House of […]

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• Differentiated Instruction and RtI
• Learning Differences