Exercise will, I suspect, eventually be found to be a piece of the Dyslexia Puzzle, but so far that's just an informed hunch based on some reading I've done. My intent here is just to inform you, as a parent or teacher, of the potential need to investigate this area further. As of today, you won't find much information on my website regarding various programs purported to address dyslexia, or reading problems generally.

In time, you might find a page discussing the cerebellum, because research is starting to home in on that portion of the brain, called the mid-brain, as a culprit in delayed development. And remember, I view dyslexia as just one component of a pattern of delayed development across several fronts, from speech to movement to language and visual areas, and having a genetic cause.

You might also eventually find on this site discussions of various programs that address childhood development issues, such as the Dore Centers (a clinic-based program aimed directly at cerebellar development), Balametrics (a home-based program of developmental exercises), The Institute for Neuro - Physiological Psychology (INPP) in Great Britain with an emphasis on primitive reflexes, as well as school-sponsored developmental exercise programs such as the Minnesota Learning Resource Center program called S.M.A.R.T/Boost Up.

Author’s Note

Notice: The Dore Centers mentioned above had severe financial difficulties, filed bankruptcy in 2008 in several countries, and have since reopened under new ownership. I will remove this notice after they've operated successfully for several years under the new ownership.

You might also eventually find here a discussion on how many of the various programs which purport to target dyslexia seem to tie together in that they address issues that could be caused by an underdeveloped cerebellum, a condition the Dore Centers refer to as Cerebellar Development Delay.

I’m prematurely inserting this page because if you are the parent of a very young child (birth to age five) and are concerned about your child’s potential to be dyslexic, this an area that I believe you should research. I have little evidence for the following statement but read it closely anyway and do with it what you wish:

I believe that it might be possible to combine a developmental exercise program with proper dietary supplementation to override a genetic predisposition to dyslexia. (See also The Diet Piece of the Dyslexia Puzzle, which covers possible links between dyslexia and shortages in our diets of both vitamin D3 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids.)

I may eventually be proven wrong, but that is the assumption I would be operating under if I was concerned about a child of mine possibly being dyslexic. I would also not be surprised to find that the roots of autism and Asperger’s are found in the same place, that is, an underdeveloped cerebellum, possibly due to insufficient levels of either Omega-3’s or Vitamin D3, or both. Always keep in mind, though, that I am speculating here.

The next piece of the dyslexia puzzle concerns auditory issues that continue to crop up when dyslexia is studied.