Early diagnosis can make a major difference to the lives of dyslexics, according to Macedonia University professor Giorgos Pavlidis.

"It is now possible to know that a child is dyslexic before they begin school," the professor of learning difficulties says.

A specialized eye movement test developed by Pavlidis promises 90% accuracy in detecting the learning disorder in children as young as five. As many as one-in-six people, the doctor claims, have some form of dyslexia, typically hereditary and it can be treated through intensive therapy.

In fact, Pavlidis believes that, "Dyslexic brains are genetically more advanced than average." However, the doctor admits that even diagnosed dyslexics continue to suffer serious disadvantages in an educational system created for non-dyslexics.

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning disorder caused by genetic differences in the brain. Unlike most people whose left side of the brain is more developed, in dyslexic brains both sides of the brain are equally developed. While this means that dyslexic brains are in fact superior and generally more creative, as the right side of the brain is responsible for creativity, it also means that they process information differently.

If dyslexic brains are superior then why is dyslexia regarded as a disability?

Dyslexic brains think in images rather than words and that creates learning disabilities in an educational system that is designed for non-dyslexics. For example when someone reads a text the eyes normally move from left to right. The eyes of dyslexics jump around haphazardly, sometimes even going from one line to another. Most dyslexics have serious spelling problems. Frequently they will write the same word differently every time within a text. The most common sign of dyslexia is a big difference between written and oral performance in school. Dyslexic students are often treated as not very bright or lazy by their teachers because they make what others interpret as obvious mistakes. Non-specialized teaching methods prevent dyslexics from advancing at the same pace as the rest of the class often causing serious psychological damage.

How can dyslexic children overcome learning disabilities?

It is very important that dyslexia is diagnosed as early as possible. Until recently it was not until two years into the education system, when an otherwise bright child was having unusual difficulties learning to read and write, that the problem came to light. Dyslexia is genetic therefore it should be detectable at a very young age since it already exists. With the Pavlidis eye movement test, the most advanced method so far, dyslexia can be diagnosed with 90% accuracy among pre-school children. It can then be treated according to individual needs.

What is the Pavlidis eye movement test?

An eye movement test, or ofthalmokinesis, registers disorders of the brain with a great degree of accuracy. Through eye movement tests it is possible to distinguish neurological problems including dyslexia. The advantage of this method is that factors such as intelligence, language, psychological state or reading ability do not influence the results. During the Pavlidis test the child is asked to look at light stimulants. The way a subjects eyes register and process information leads to conclusions on specific neurological disorders including dyslexia. A dyslexic will have a harder time focusing on the lights, as well as concentration problems. Detailed study of different forms of the disorder is very useful for its treatment. The Pavlidis test is used in universities including Harvard, Penn State, Boston and Columbia with very good results.

What role can multimedia treatment play?

It is based on the precise knowledge of how dyslexic brains work and alternative teaching methods mainly through the use of computers. Children are encouraged to work and progress at their own pace. During an experiment conducted in 2000 by Brunel University in the UK a group of 20 dyslexic students were selected to undergo Pavlidis multimedia treatment at the Dyslexia and Intelligence Centre in Thessaloniki. Each child attended two individual thirty-minute learning sessions twice a week for five months. At the end of that period the childrens progress was assessed and it was estimated that their spelling was 6.53 times better than if they had attended a general school.

What is the role of computers in the learning process?

Computers play a key role because dyslexics think in images. On a practical level they are invaluable. They can eliminate spelling and reading problems by simple spell-checking programs and through the increasing use of voice-activated systems. Dyslexics who would never write a letter feel confident to use e-mail. Computers are not just practical tools they also help raise dyslexics self-esteem.

How informed are Greek teachers on dyslexia?

Unfortunately research shows that only one in two teachers in Greece has been taught to identify dyslexia. On the other hand 97% of teachers say they would like more intense courses on learning disabilities to be taught at university level. Many teachers attend relevant lectures on a voluntary basis.

How is the Greek state dealing with dyslexia?

There is a law exempting dyslexic students from written exams throughout the education system. At the same time there are some specialised courses in schools or other learning centres. The governments commitment to install computers in all schools by 2002 will be a definite step toward facilitating treatment of dyslexia and inclusion in the education system.