[Oz-teachers] Dyslexia ..... fiction!!!???

Fri Mar 19 15:16:17 EST 2010

And one more point. I have seen these dyslexia/ADHD labels abused so
often in court it makes my blood curdle. A person has a head-on car
smash, evidence of frontal brain damage on CT, MRI and psychometrics.
The psychosocial-labelling industry rolls into court armed with some
vague references to the patient's school days and next thing you know
they're saying there is no brain damage from the car smash as all the
symptoms are due to 'a pre-existing psychiatric history' - you guessed
it - ADHD. Except that when you interview the patient it was "a cousin
.. I think he had ADHD". 

So I'm sorry if I offended anyone but rather than me apologising I'd
like to see the shrinko's apologise to the thousands they've
deliberately mislabelled in court. But they're too busy on their
yachts....

Tom Benjamin, PhD
Senior Researcher
Sourcing and Evaluation
Learning Design and Services
Centre for Learning Innovation
-----------------------------------------------------
51 Wentworth Road, Strathfield NSW 2135
Ph: (02) 9715 8129
Fax: (02) 9715 8162
www.cli.nsw.edu.au
-----------------------------------------------------
NSW Department of Education and Training

-----Original Message-----
From: oz-teachers-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au
[mailto:oz-teachers-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au] On Behalf Of Benjamin,
Thomas
Sent: Friday, 19 March 2010 03:55
To: Professional community for teachers
Subject: Re: [Oz-teachers] Dyslexia ..... fiction!!!???

Jack Lyle at Sydney Uni did research on 'dyslexia' decades ago. His team
had a very hard time (in fact I think they didn't) finding a single case
of someone born with an isolated reading problem that fit the
definition.

Google throws up a lot of books of criticism of Dyslexia, ADHD etc and
the whole USA psychiatric edifice. 

I could write for hours on this but I left the health game because of
those sinister politics. I came to this forum to promote my new/current
hopefully positive career in developing multimedia projects. It makes me
sorry I opened my mouth. I must get on with my actual day job.

Tom Benjamin, PhD
Senior Researcher
Sourcing and Evaluation
Learning Design and Services
Centre for Learning Innovation
-----------------------------------------------------
51 Wentworth Road, Strathfield NSW 2135
Ph: (02) 9715 8129
Fax: (02) 9715 8162
www.cli.nsw.edu.au
-----------------------------------------------------
NSW Department of Education and Training

-----Original Message-----
From: oz-teachers-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au
[mailto:oz-teachers-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au] On Behalf Of Paul
Shirren
Sent: Friday, 19 March 2010 03:47
To: Professional community for teachers
Subject: Re: [Oz-teachers] Dyslexia ..... fiction!!!???

I jumped on Tom for his comment because, although not a teacher, I have
met people who have dyslexia and I am suspicious of any argument that
would deprive people of assistance.

On the other hand I have seen teachers wedded to brain myths that while
convenient do not seem to have much scientific basis.

I am currently watching a 2005 tv documentary called The Dyslexia Myth
at http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=6031033294208468907

Most tv documentaries are rubbish and don't hold much beyond
entertainment value. I don't expect this one is any different but
perhaps things might not be as clear cut as I thought.

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