About the Author

SALLY E. SHAYWITZ, M.D., is the Audrey G. Ratner Professor in Learning Development at Yale University and co-founder and co-director of the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity. She is the author of more than 350 scientific articles and book chapters, and the creator of the Shaywitz DyslexiaScreenTM, a tool used by teachers to reliably screen young children for dyslexia.Overcoming Dyslexiawon the Margo Marek Book Award and the NAMI Book Award. Dr. Shaywitz is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and is regularly selected as one of the "Best Doctors in America." She has testified before committees in both the Senate and the House. She lives in Woodbridge, CT.

JONATHAN SHAYWITZ, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist. He was the director of the Anxiety Disorders Program at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, and more recently the Medical Director of Behavioral Health at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach and Mission Hospital Mission Viejo.

Reviews

“Sally Shaywitz is an amazing woman, and no one has a better understanding of dyslexia and how it affects young children. Her work in this field is unmatched. One in five children of all classes, genders, and races have dyslexia, and it must be recognized early. These children think fast but read slow, through no fault of their own. Some of them are brilliant, but their brilliance often goes unrecognized. Sally’s tireless advocacy for those who have this learning disability has to be an inspiration for anyone who values early learning, systems of intelligence, and how to combat the many false perceptions of dyslexia. Her constant fight to change public policy as it relates to the way dyslexia functions and is understood in the nation’s schools should be deeply meaningful to anyone who cares about children in today’s world.” —Bob Dylan

“In this gem of a book, Dr. Sally Shaywitz uses her voice, her images, her brain–and yes, her heart–to shine a piercing and clarifying light on what we so inadequately call ‘dyslexia.’ What is more, she shows how almost everyone can overcome it.” —Daniel D. Federman, M.D.,

“Fascinating. . . . Shaywitz has illuminated the inner workings of dyslexic minds.” —Time

“An important book.... For the first time, scientists are understanding how the brain works...in the act of reading. Front and center now is Sally Shaywitz.” –The Baltimore Sun

"Sally Shaywitz is an amazing woman, and no one has a better understanding of dyslexia and how it affects young children. Her work in this field is unmatched. One in five children of all classes, genders, and races have dyslexia, and it must be recognized early. These children think fast but read slow, through no fault of their own. Some of them are brilliant, but their brilliance often goes unrecognized. Sally's tireless advocacy for those who have this learning disability has to be an inspiration for anyone who values early learning, systems of intelligence, and how to combat the many false perceptions of dyslexia. Her constant fight to change public policy as it relates to the way dyslexia functions and is understood in the nation's schools should be deeply meaningful to anyone who cares about children in today's world." -Bob Dylan

"In this gem of a book, Dr. Sally Shaywitz uses her voice, her images, her brain-and yes, her heart-to shine a piercing and clarifying light on what we so inadequately call 'dyslexia.' What is more, she shows how almost everyone can overcome it." -Daniel D. Federman, M.D.,

"Fascinating. . . . Shaywitz has illuminated the inner workings of dyslexic minds." -Time

"An important book.... For the first time, scientists are understanding how the brain works...in the act of reading. Front and center now is Sally Shaywitz." -The Baltimore Sun

Yale neuroscientist Shaywitz demystifies the roots of dyslexia (a neurologically based reading difficulty affecting one in five children) and offers parents and educators hope that children with reading problems can be helped. Shaywitz delves deeply into how dyslexia occurs, explaining that magnetic resonance imaging has helped scientists trace the disability to a weakness in the language system at the phonological level. According to Shaywitz, science now has clear evidence that the brain of the dyslexic reader is activated in a different area than that of the nonimpaired reader. Interestingly, the dyslexic reader may be strong in reasoning, problem solving and critical thinking, but invariably lacks phonemic awareness-the ability to break words apart into distinct sounds-which is critical in order to crack the reading code. The good news, Shaywitz claims, is that with the use of effective training programs, the brain can be rewired and dyslexic children can learn to read. She walks parents through ways to help children develop phonemic awareness, become fluent readers, and exercise the area of the brain essential for reading success. Early diagnosis and effective treatment, the author claims, are of utmost importance, although even older readers can learn to read skillfully with proper intervention. Shaywitz's groundbreaking work builds an important bridge from the laboratory to the home and classroom. 34 line drawings and graphs (Apr.) Forecast: There are few books on this subject, but Shaywitz is a well-known expert in the field and this work has been highly anticipated. Knopf is prepared with a 75,000 first printing. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.