The Dyslexia Detective

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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- About 10 percent of the U.S. population suffers from dyslexia, a condition that makes learning to read difficult. Dyslexia is usually diagnosed around second grade, but the results of a new study from MIT could help identify those children before they even begin reading.
The new study is part of a larger effort involving approximately 1,000 children at schools throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The study included 40 children who had their brains scanned using a technique known as diffusion-weighted imaging, which is based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
When comparing the brain scans and the results of several different types of pre-reading tests, the researchers found a correlation between the size and organization of the arcuate fasciculus and performance on tests of phonological awareness — the ability to identify and manipulate the sounds of language.
For more information go to: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2013/brain-scans-may-help-diagnose-dyslexia-0813.html
SOURCE: Journal of Neuroscience, August 2013