Media

HKU Study reveals Brains of Dyslexics Differ in Chinese and English Readers

08 Apr 2008

 

A study of a research team of the State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), demonstrated for the first time that brains of dyslexics differ in readers of different languages.

The study, which compared dyslexic children who are readers of Chinese to those of English, indicated structural and functional differences between both groups. The brain imaging findings implied that dyslexia may be different neurological conditions in readers of different languages. The findings may well provide useful clues for further genetic studies in dyslexia.

Developmental dyslexia, a severe learning disability, affects 7% to 9% of children in Hong Kong, and up to 17% throughout the world.

Current treatments of English dyslexia focus in enhancing children's letter-sound conversion awareness. But for dyslexics who read Chinese, a stream of language very different from alphabetic language like English, is this conventional approach also effective? This research may also help tailor-making therapies for children who grow up in different cultures.

Members of the media are cordially invited to a press briefing in which the Principal Investigators of the State Key Laboratory will elaborate on their major findings. The details are:-

Date:      April 9, 2008 (Wednesday)
Venue:   Convocation Room (Room 218), Main Building, HKU
Time:      2:00 p.m.
Speakers:
■ Professor TAN Li-Hai, Professor, Department of Linguistics, HKU
■ Dr SIOK Wai-Ting, Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics, HKU

For enquiries, please contact Ms Denise Wong, Manager (Media), External Relations Office, HKU (Tel: 2859 2600 / E-mail: denise.wong@hku.hk)