Dore Programme

The DORE programme, previously known as DDAT (Dyslexia Dyspraxia Attention Treatment) is a drug-free course of treatment for dyslexia and other learning difficulties which has aroused controversy among the medical establishment in Britain. It consists of a series of exercises designed to develop the functions of the cerebellum. DORE was developed on the principle that the cerebellum coordinates brain functions and therefore plays an essential role in the learning process.

Introduction

The development of DDAT was initiated by successful businessman Wynford Dore. When his daughter was diagnosed with severe dyslexia and he saw the impact the condition had on her life he decided to invest in the development of an effective treatment. Dore also sought an alternative to treatment with drugs as many drugs used to treat central nervous system disorders have serious and debilitating side-effects.

Dore began to carry out research into the condition and found that dyslexia and many other learning difficulties had been linked to Cerebellar Developmental Delay (CDD), a condition in which neural pathways between the cerebrum and cerebellum do not develop fully, leading to an impairment of the brain’s ability to coordinate nerve impulses. Dore realised that it could be possible to treat learning difficulties by developing these neural pathways and hired specialists to develop a programme of exercises targeted towards cerebellar development.

Cerebellar Developmental Delay

The brain can be divided by function into two distinct areas; the cerebrum, which receives and processes stimuli from the sensory organs, and the cerebellum, which is responsible for coordinating the motor responses to these stimuli. In individuals with CDD the neural pathways connecting these two areas of the brain do not develop fully. As this affects the brain’s ability to initiate an appropriate response to sensory input, affected individuals may suffer from learning difficulties.

Neural plasticity

Skills such as reading and writing become automatic as the learning process eventually leads to the development of neural pathways specifically for these tasks. Research suggests that while the cerebellum becomes less active once a skill has been learned, it nonetheless retains much of its plasticity — the ability to develop new synaptic connections and neural pathways.

The DORE method

The DORE method is designed to stimulate the development of the pathways affected by CDD and to strengthen the connections between the cerebrum and cerebellum. The programme consists of a series of balance and coordination exercises which are carried out twice a day, typically for around twelve months. The programme is tailored to the needs of each patient; tests to determine cerebellar function and to chart the patient’s progress are carried out regularly and the program is adapted as necessary.

It is effective in the treatment of learning disorders including dyslexia, dyspraxia, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) because many of these problems stem from an inability to coordinate motor responses such as eye movement in reading and other examples of hand-eye coordination.

Effectiveness

Over the past three years the DORE programme has helped over 16,000 children and adults overcome their learning difficulties. High-profile cases include singer Leo Sayer and Scottish international rugby player Kenny Logan.

In 2006, it was reported that in a trial of the programme on inmates at Stafford prison, 87% reported improvements in reading, writing, memory, concentration and co-ordination.

Criticism

The DORE treatment has been widely criticized by the medical establishment based on the lack of published research into its efficacy. A number of papers published in the British Dyslexia Association's journal, have found the only piece of independent academic research DORE offer in support of their treatment to be poorly designed and unreliable. According to an article published in the Times Educational Supplement in 2004, many of Britain's foremost academics maintain that the results prove nothing. Critics have also pointed out that the research was carried out by a previous director of another Wynfred Dore company, and so may not be wholly independent after all. The only other evidence for the effectiveness of the programme comes mainly from tabloid newspaper testimonials, featuring minor celebrities among other non-experts. Several bodies, including the Dyslexia Institute, have recommended that the exercises in DDAT be shared so that they can be tested objectively in a clinical-type trial with proper sample quality and control groups.

The Times quotes Professor Rack of the Dyslexia Institute as saying: "What we need is a controlled study, then we could give some sensible advice to teachers and parents." But DDAT have said they will not release details of their exercises on the grounds of "commercial confidentiality".

The UK's Independent Television Commission have publicly expressed their scepticism of the approach. Claims made in a 2002 news item on British television, in which Sir Trevor McDonald hailed DDAT as a "breakthrough in the treatment of dyslexia" were deemed "not sustainable" by the Commission (a judgement it repeated about a later item on Richard and Judy) whilst Ofcom - a government body which regulates electronic media in the United Kingdom - found a recent television commercial to be in breach of Advertising Standards Code Rules for creating a false impression of the medical evidence, and implying that professional medical advice and support would be part of the treatment.

Finally, critics maintain that the cost involved in following the DORE programme is extortionate.

References

• A Remedy Without Rigour - Times Educational Supplement article
• 'Lies, damned lies and (inappropriate) statistics' - Dyslexia journal reference
• How I tackled 30 years of secret shame. The Sunday Times, October 16, 2005
• Dyslexia cost Leo fortune. The Mirror, 16 February 2006