Mike Smith:
Dianne, in your years of researching the reasons for children’s learning struggles, what have you learned?

Dianne Craft:
Well, fascinating research has pointed out the fact that dyslexia is often connected to a faulty immune system response. It has also been found to be associated with low thyroid states. It tends to run in families that have immune system issues like allergies, diabetes, and thyroid problems. Dr. Jacqueline Stordy, in her research published in medical journals, finds that dyslexia runs in families that are low in essential fatty acids, particularly, fish oils. We know that essential fatty acids strengthen a child’s immune system. But, when we consider the fact that the brain is 60% fat, and the corpus callosum connecting the two hemispheres is made of this fat, we can see the importance of this. Dr. Carl Levinson, in his dyslexia clinic in New York, and in his book, Smart but Feeling Dumb, has found that food allergies, particularly dairy, play a large role in the reading reversals that children with dyslexia experience. In his clinic, he uses low doses of antihistamines to help modulate the vestibular system. In my practice, Child Diagnostics in Denver, I have found that many children greatly reduce reversing words in reading and writing when they remove the offending food from their diet. Now that we know there’s a chemistry to dyslexia, there’s much that can be done nutritionally to help these bright children overcome this reading challenge.

Mike:
Dianne, thank you so much for being on the program this week. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.