Dyslexia doctor sparks flood of calls

Helpline set up

A new helpline number has been set up to deal with the flood of calls to a pioneering American doctor who gave a talk in Leamington on his revolutionary treatment of dyslexia last night (Wednesday).

As featured on the front page of The Observer last week, New York-based psychiatrist and neurologist Dr Harold Levinson was set to speak to dyslexia sufferers and their carers as well as teachers and people from the medical profession at a meeting held at the Manor Hotel.

The report created widespread interest but for the many people who were unable to attend the meeting, the support group can be contacted on the new free helpline number 01483 571248.

'Dyslexia is a very misunderstood problem which affects a great number of people,' Dr Levinson told The Observer.

'And this is the first time treatment of this kind has been available in this country.'

He said he hoped to provide information to all people who deal with dyslexia from those in schools to medical centres and urged people to call the new number to arrange alternative meetings.

The treatment costs around £700 per year which includes complete diagnosis, evaluation and follow-up sessions but not the medication.

Dr Levinson set up a pilot medical study last May - the first of its kind in Britain - where 50 dyslexic youths and children in Leamington were given his special medication.

The results found at the Leamington Spa Dyslexia Support Group have been outstanding and many parents attended the meeting to share their first-hand experiences with visitors. Dr Levinsonts research links the condition to an inner-ear problem and his unique treatment has helped tens of thousands of sufferers worldwide.

He found dyslexia was not just a severe reading disorder but was a syndrome of many symptoms affecting around one in five children and adults.