Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a specific disorder of reading, writing and spelling and affects many school age children. Those with Dyslexia experience delayed nerve conduction and have poor sensory integration and motor movements. There is a timing problem between observation and reaction time.

Many children with Dyslexia also experience nervousness, agitation and irritation in the class room due to feelings of frustration and are quite often left out of social circles due to being labelled as dumb. These children need guidance and observation in their learning progression from their teachers, carers and peers in order to move forward in a positive framework socially and academically.

Dyslexia is not a problem associated with the primary language centres in the brain, but a problem with the rapid processing of information combined with poor co-ordination, balance and fluency. It is a condition which affects the Cerebellum of the brain and this plays a crucial role in developing the skills required for speech, control of eye movements which are used for better recognition of the written word and other automatic processes related to reading, writing and spelling.

SYMPTOMS OF DYSLEXIA

  • Learning disabilities
  • Experience problems with processing information
  • Find moving visual stimuli difficult to detect
  • Find co-ordinating movements difficult and are often more clumsy
  • Complaining that letters on the page appear to move around (movement illusions)
  • Often experience balance problems
  • Impaired eye co-ordination and head movements

CAUSES OF DYSLEXIA?

  • Free radical damage due to toxic insult (heavy metal exposure, brain infections and inflammation, high free radical production of inflammatory molecules)
  • Middle ear disturbances
  • Specific nutrient deficiencies
  • Antibody attack against specific nerve components
  • Defective myelination of the nerve fibres
  • Genetic factors
  • Gestational deficiencies

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR DYSLEXIA

Supplementation for Dyslexia concentrates on increasing the essential nutrients that feed the myelin sheath, reduce damage to nerve fibres, improve nerve conductivity and reducing . A combination of nutritional therapies may help to improve cognitive function, learning ability, behaviour, nervous system integrity and improved memory and performance.

  • Common nutrient deficiencies are B Vitamins (specifically Vitamin B1, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12). These help to improve nerve conduction and transmission and a deficiency in any of these can impair cognitive learning
  • Impaired Omega 3 fatty acid metabolism can result impaired nerve conduction and elevated oxidative stress (free radical stress). Essential fatty acid imbalance (resulting from diets low in healthy oils) may contribute also to decreased visual acuity and IQ. Fish oil supplementation with high Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is imperative
  • Hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose) if prolonged can continue to damage the myelin sheath (protective outer of the nerve fibre) resulting in impaired nerve conduction
  • Biotin deficiency can result in slow nerve conduction
  • Phospholipids (Choline and Serine) are important components of the cell membrane and myelin sheath and also play a crucial role in the maturation of the brain
  • If high levels of inflammation are present nutrients such as Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin E, Evening Primrose oil, Cysteine and Lipoid acid should also be considered. Children may also present with other inflammatory conditions such as skin rashes and this is a symptom which can be linked to deficiencies associated with Dyslexia
  • If Hyperglycaemia is a contributing factor nutrients which may assist are Chromium, Lipoid acid, B Vitamins and Zinc. Obvious diet changes of reducing sugar are essential

LIFESTYLE TIPS FOR DYSLEXIA

  • Check for middle ear infections
  • Address nutritional deficiencies
  • Improvement of diet
  • Heavy metal, allergy and Candida blood test
  • Address Hyperglycaemia
  • Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, chemicals and heavy metals
  • Address Essential fatty acid deficiency
  • Inform peers and teachers of the condition so that the child can be properly supported
  • Seek supportive organisations
  • Inform yourself so that you can make the positive choices and changes for the child to reach their full learning potential
  • Underline difficult words when reading using different colours to help improve the distinctiveness between the words and sentences
  • Introduce exercise that help to improve co-ordination, including hand-eye and cross cranial exercises. Repeat often
  • Teach the child using all of their senses (touch, visual, auditory)
  • Light sensitivity may be a problem and often tinted eyeglasses can improve a childs concentration

DIET TIPS FOR DYSLEXIA

  • Improvement of diet is essential by reducing sugar, dairy, gluten, processed and preserved foods in the diet
  • Increase essential fatty acid intake (fish, nuts, seeds, flaxseed oil, krill oil, olive oil and avocados)
  • Avoid colours, flavours, additives and preservatives in the diet
  • Increase leafy greens
  • Include lecithin granules (Serine and Choline) in the diet, add to smoothies or muesli
  • Reduce Omega 6 essential fatty acids in the diet (saturated fats, peanut oil, animal products, vegetable oils and sunflower oil)