ひとりの夜もそばにいようぜ　君と僕の歌を歌う

Poor rhythm 'at heart of dyslexia'
Tuesday, 23 July, 2002, 07:11 GMT 08:11 UK

A poor sense of rhythm could be to blame for dyslexia, scientists believe.
Researchers from University College London (UCL) found dyslexic children were less able to detect beats in sounds with a strong rhythm.

But children who read exceptionally well for their age were found to be much better than most at spotting rhythms.

The researchers concluded that an awareness of beats can influence the way young children assimilate speech patterns, which may in turn affect their reading and writing abilities.

Up to 100 children, 24 of whom were certified dyslexic, were tested as part of the UCL study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Winnie the Pooh

The children were played two types of tune - one with a rhythmical, pulsating beat and one without a distinctive beat.

The children were told the rhythmical sound was Tigger and Eeyore playing on a swing, while the continuous sound was Winnie the Pooh sliding down a spiral-shaped straw.

They were then played new sounds and had to decide if what they were hearing was Tigger and Eeyore on their swing or Winnie the Pooh on his slide.

The results clearly indicated dyslexic children had difficulty recognising the rhythmic sound.
Speech has a rhythmical beat linked to the points at which sounds are perceived, called "P-centres".



I guess THAT explains why i am a "spastic at rhythm" as my cousin had so aptly put it.