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Is dyslexia a hearing disorder? I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.
Children with dyslexia have trouble reading fluently, and much research has focused on their ability to see and process written words. But research conducted at Northwestern suggests that a big part of dyslexia may result from problems in the brain’s hearing centers. The study found that dyslexic children have a hard time focusing on speech in a noisy environment. Since a big part of decoding printed words involves our brains saying the words silently to ourselves, dyslexia may be as much a disorder of hearing as of seeing.
In other science news this week, researchers at the University of Missouri are trying to make ice cream with the health benefits of broccoli. They’re adding antioxidants and fiber to the treat. Recently, they’ve begun experimenting with extracts of acai berry and grape remnants left over from wine-making. Their goal is to have the healthy ice cream ready for tasting by next summer. I’m Bob Hirshon for AAAS, the Science Society.