In the U.S., about one in five students have some kind of learning disability, with dyslexia being the most common one. Experts believe that dyslexia affects 70 to 80 percent of those with poor reading skills.
Dyslexia affects both boys and girls from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds equally, leading to different challenges. Some kids find it hard to learn to read and spell, while others struggle with writing or distinguishing left from right. Sometimes, children who initially show few signs of difficulty with reading or writing might later have trouble with more complex language skills like reading comprehension and grammar.
Given the impact dyslexia can have on a child’s intellectual development, it’s concerning to know that less than one-third of children with a reading disability get the help they need in school.
Interestingly, a recent study suggests that video games might offer a surprising new way to help kids with dyslexia.
Another Developmental Tool
Researchers from the Developmental & Cognitive Neuroscience Lab at the University of Padua in Italy discovered that kids with dyslexia performed better on tests after playing action-oriented video games for a few hours. The games seemed to temporarily improve their focus.
Although the study hasn’t proven a direct cause-and-effect relationship and researchers caution against assuming that video games can definitively improve dyslexia, there’s potential. Even if a clear link were established, it’s unclear how long any benefits would last.
Researchers also advise against parents letting their children play video games for hours on end hoping to improve dyslexia. Instead, the true value of this research could be to provide teachers with another tool to help students with dyslexia.
Study Results
In their study, the researchers had children with dyslexia play a Nintendo Wii game for a total of 12 hours over less than a week. Another group of children played a different, less action-packed game during the same period.
The kids who played the action game improved their reading speed significantly, even more than what children usually achieve through intensive reading programs. Researchers think this might be because the video game trains the brain to focus and pay attention to details.
Researchers are encouraged by the potential long-term benefits video games could offer as a learning tool for kids with dyslexia. Engaging students with fun and interactive materials might be far more effective than the hard work-intensive reading programs that have little enjoyment. This could help teachers maintain students’ interest and engagement in overcoming their reading disabilities.
The study’s findings were published in the March issue of Current Biology.