Could video games help children at risk for dyslexia with reading?

Action video games like ‘Space Invaders Extreme 2’ had a lasting effect on children’s phonological development, researchers say. — AFP Relaxnews

After hearing alarming reports on the effects of screen time on young people, some parents might not like the idea of their offspring playing video games. Yet there are positive aspects to this pastime. In fact, a new study claims that video games can be beneficial for preschool children at risk of dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a learning disorder characterised by difficulty reading. It manifests itself in difficulties in identifying letters, syllables and words. The causes of dyslexia are still poorly understood, although the scientific community suspects a problem in the way visual information is transmitted and analysed by the brain. However, it is known that a child with a dyslexic parent is 80 times more likely to develop the disorder.