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Subject: Re: [MELUNGEON] Dr. Bob
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:40:58 EST

Sometimes it is hard for me to try to explain things too. I don't know that
I am going to be able to do this so that it is understandable. It is complex.

I hope what I'm trying to do here will be of help, but when you are dealing
with medical data, it is best to try to use the medical terminology that the
doctors use rather than words that can be misunderstood. It is not
nit-picking.

I hope you will understand that I am doing my best to try to put into common
everyday words medical meanings - sometimes it is like going around your
elbow to get to your mouth.

IF I could set this up as a diagram it would be easier to understand but I
do not have the facility to do that on this computer.

Ok I said:
"Dyslexia is biological and neurophysiological not physical as you are
using the word."

Let's deal with neurophysiological first.

*Physiology is a branch of biology that deals with the functions and
activities of life or of living matter (as organs, tissues, or cells) and in this
case the nervous system.

*Note that 'functions and activities" are NOT physical.

Function has two meanings as applied to this area:

# 1. A 'function' is the action for which a person or thing is specially
fitted or used or for which a thing exists : that is its PURPOSE -

*so what is the purpose of the nerves in dealing with the ability to read
and understand?

*And how do folks with dyslexia differ from folks who do not have the
problem?

*And how can we help those with dyslexia to do a better job reading and
understanding?

These are the questions we have to ask in order for us to understand what we
are talking about.

The second meaning of 'function' in this instance is:

# 2 : the organic processes and phenomena of an organism or any of its parts
or of a particular bodily process

*A PROCESS is NOT physical.

So in the case of dyslexia we can not just simply say 'physical' As I
understand it, the only physical part of dyslexia may be IF it is caused by a
vision problem.

One of our responders noted the simple use of colored acetate put over a
black and white sheet. This solves a lot of problems for some. I had a student
who had a great deal of trouble reading. I kept trying a number of things to
help him but none of them seemed to be working until I noticed that when he
tried to read, he put his hand over his eyes and peeked between his fingers to
read. I finally had sense enough to ask him "what happens when you do that?"

He replied that it 'kept the letters and words from jumping around.'

With that realization, I was able to fashion a page cover that allowed only
a few words at a time to be seen. By sliding it left, right and down the page
as he read, he was able to do a much better job of reading and improved his
reading scores greatly that year. I followed him for a couple of years after
my class with him and he continued to use a similar cover, and his grades
improved. He moved to another school and I lost track of him. Have often thought
of him and wondered how he did.

As for biological - this means

* of or relating to biology or to life and living processes

NOTE the word processes in the above, so dyslexia for the most part deals
with the processes or functions of the nervous system in relationship to how our
nervous system works.

IF something were wrong with the nervous system such as a tumor in the brain
that interfered with brain function, then that could be considered
'physical.' That is usually not the case with dyslexia as no known CAUSE of this
problem as yet been found that covers ALL the reasons why it happens.

Hope I haven't confused you more!! I am honestly trying to help. :-)
Love
Nancy



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