Scientists quit in dyslexia ‘cure’ row

The author of the study in the journal Dyslexia was paid £30,000 for carrying out the research by Dore, who has also sponsored PhD students taught by the co-author.

Uta Frith, professor of cognitive development at University College London and one of those who resigned, said: “People stand to make a lot of money on the basis of research that appears in journals so it is important the studies are scientific in their approach. I don’t feel this was the case.”

The treatment has been used by nearly 20,000 children at a cost of up to £1,700 each and has been featured on television shows such as Tonight with Trevor McDonald and Richard and Judy.

Both programmes were reprimanded by the Independent Television Commission, which found the claims outlined were “not sustainable”.

Dore’s is one of a number of unusual approaches to dyslexia — which may affect about 6m people in Britain — ranging from eating fish oil to flashing lights.

The condition has been particularly prone to unusual ideas for therapy because of the uncertainty surrounding its causes and the best way to treat it. Of those affected, about 2.4m suffer a severe form of the condition.

Dore devoted himself to finding a cure for the condition and set up a charitable foundation to promote the treatment after his daughter Susie, now 34, attempted suicide three times because she was so depressed at being dyslexic.

There are now 11 Dore treatment centres in Britain, with others in Australia and America.

Dore’s technique was inspired by the work of Harold Levinson, an American psychiatrist. It is based on the theory that the cause of dyslexia is a fault in the cerebellum, an area of the brain controlling balance and muscle movement.

It suggests new neural connections are formed by stimulating the cerebellum with repeated exercises such as the bean bag and wobble board routines. These connections can help to alleviate dyslexia and other conditions.

In its promotional material, the Dore Foundation cites the study published online last month by the journal Dyslexia.

It follows the progress of 29 of the weakest readers at a Warwickshire school who were given the exercise-based treatment over two years.

The study found “significant and lasting” gains in cognitive and literacy skills and was hailed by David Reynolds, professor of education at Plymouth University and the paper’s author, as “the closest thing to a cure that I have ever seen”.

The Dore Foundation’s website describes the technique as a drug-free solution for the symptoms of dyslexia and ADHD. But it has provoked fierce criticism in academic circles.

In addition to the five who have resigned, one of the journal’s executive editors is also on the verge of leaving.

Several academics raised concerns over apparent conflicts of interest. Reynolds was paid £30,000 in expenses by Dore to carry out the study, and was formerly a paid director in a company run by the businessman. Three quarters of the screening tests on the children were carried out by researchers from DDAT, a Dore firm.

Professor Rod Nicolson, a psychologist at Sheffield University and the study’s co-author, supervises the postgraduate study of Dore’s business partner, Dr Roy Rutherford.

Dore has also sponsored three PhD students in Nicolson’s department. Questions have also been raised over Nicolson’s working relationship with Angela Fawcett, editor of Dyslexia. They have written 30 articles and three books together.

Dr Michael Thomson, executive editor of Dyslexia, who is considering tendering his notice, said: “I think the editor is too closely associated with Nicolson. It is depressing this (research) is associated with a journal purporting to be objective.”

The study also faced criticism as most of the children assessed were not dyslexic. Some were 22 months ahead of their reading age before the treatment while the writing and semantic fluency of most was above average.

John Stein, professor of physiology at Cambridge University, was also concerned by the lack of a control group and the small scale of the study.

He said: “I have serious concerns about the study. Without a control group, you don’t know how the children would have done, or how they would have progressed without the exercises.”

Reynolds denied any conflict of interest. He admitted there were “minor” design problems, but maintained the study showed Dore’s technique brought a “quantum improvement”.

He said: “Before the treatment began, independent school reading tests showed that children with reading difficulties were making only seven months progress in 12 months. In the 12 months of treatment the children made 20 months’ improvement.”

Dore said of his critics: “This is a flat earth society response. We have done (the study) honestly, we have done it scientifically, we have done every piece of research that everyone has suggested.”

Trevor Davies, head teacher at Balsall Common primary in Kenilworth where the study was carried out, backed Dore, saying: “It has been a very successful programme for our pupils.”

Caroline Barlow, 40, whose daughter Laura, 12, took part in the trial, said she had performed well in her exams after the treatment, but previously had had trouble keeping up.

“It’s treating the cause, not just the symptoms,” said Barlow.

Reynolds insisted there was no conflict of interest. “I have done absolutely nothing except tell the truth,” he said. Nicolson admitted his links to Dore could be seen as a “potential conflict of interest”, but said his work was independent. Fawcett said she had “stood well back” from the decision to publish the paper.