Science and faux-science

[Lamplighter]

Usually, I detest the way the media reports events in science to the general public, particularly medicine.
Most often, such reports strike me as "faux science" or the interpretation is far beyond justification.
But then every once in a while, an article in the news that strikes me as being important.
Time will say whether a given article is "for real" or is only "faux-science"

Here is one article I expect will turn out to be eventually real and significant...

NY Times (opinion)
By ANNIE MURPHY PAUL
Published: February 4, 2012

The Upside of Dyslexia

<snip>
Dyslexia is a complex disorder, and there is much that is still not understood about it.
But a series of ingenious experiments have shown that many people with dyslexia
possess distinctive perceptual abilities.

For example, scientists have produced a growing body of evidence that people
with the condition have sharper peripheral vision than others.
Gadi Geiger and Jerome Lettvin, cognitive scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
used a mechanical shutter, called a tachistoscope, to briefly flash a
row of letters extending from the center of a subject’s field of vision out to its perimeter.
Typical readers identified the letters in the middle of the row with greater accuracy.
Those with dyslexia triumphed, however, when asked to identify letters located in the row’s outer reaches.

Mr. Geiger and Mr. Lettvin’s findings, which have been confirmed in several subsequent studies,
provide a striking demonstration of the fact that the brain separately processes information
that streams from the central and the peripheral areas of the visual field.
Moreover, these capacities appear to trade off: if you’re adept at focusing on details
located in the center of the visual field, which is key to reading,
you’re likely to be less proficient at recognizing features and patterns in the broad regions of the periphery.
<snip>

Whatever special abilities dyslexia may bestow, difficulty with reading still imposes a handicap.
Glib talk about appreciating dyslexia as a “gift” is unhelpful at best and patronizing at worst.
But identifying the distinctive aptitudes of those with dyslexia will permit us
to understand this condition more completely, and perhaps orient their education
in a direction that not only remediates weaknesses,
but builds on strengths.

[regular.joe]

Most of the things in my life that I thought were horrible and damning when I was younger have turned out to be assets in my maturity.

[Clodfobble]

Glib talk about appreciating dyslexia as a “gift” is unhelpful at best and patronizing at worst.

This.

There are, however, vision therapists who can provide special glasses that actually have very carefully crafted prisms instead of normal lenses, basically spreading the peripheral part large and minimizing the center, and they can completely change the way certain individuals are able to see the world. Like, kids with severe dyslexia put on a pair designed for their unique visual field, and they can instantly read. It's cool stuff.

[Griff]

Hmmm... dyslexic kids prolly hit the curve ball better.

[Gravdigr]

I'm mildly dyslexic.

I just tried the peripheral vision thing, competing against both my parents. Mine is better than theirs.

Who'da thunk it?

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

spreading the peripheral part large and minimizing the center

I realized I have this backwards--they need the center spread out so they can see it more, and the peripheral gets shoved even smaller because they can already see it great.

[classicman]

I figured I read that wrong... Thanks for the correction.

[Flint]

I expect medicine of all disciplines will become increasingly specialized to the unique properties of individuals, and, I hope, to tailor an educational environment which zeroes in on each person's strongest use of their personal abilities and the skillset inherent to their makeup.

I wish I would have realized, before my 30s, that there is a condition called Asperger's, which is basically a super-power.

[regular.joe]

My son has Aspergers and yes it is a super power! He is awesome. Teachers though, I could talk for hours about a minority of teachers who do not understand what the fuck is going on.

[Flint]

I read some where that ADHD knows the rules, can't help breaking them, whereas Asperger's literally doesn't know the rules. Like, naïve to social cues. My wife has to tell me when girls are hitting on me. I just think people are being nice!

[infinite monkey]

Oh, hai. How you doin'? Listen, do you have the time? 'Cause I got the place.

I'm just being nice.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Flint

My wife has to tell me when girls are hitting on me. I just think people are being nice!

Ha! ding ding ding... I have no clue either.

[monster]

But you also have no wife.....

[classicman]

Significant other. After 6 years... pretty close.

[regular.joe]

LOL you guys. Yea, my boy does not get many social cues. Smart as a whip, mature in many, many ways but totally misses the bus on some things. He's fine with himself and he knows he doesn't get what he doesn't get. He is honest as the day is long, loves structure, has a heart of gold. I wouldn't trade him for all the gold in the world.