Research into the Dore Programme

"At Dore we are totally committed to researching the causes of learning difficulties and finding the best and most accessible way of eradicating them. We carry out a combination of internal research through data collated from our clients and work with many organisations around the world including Education authorities and schools".
Dr Roy Rutherford, Medical Director, Dore

Previous Projects

Balsall Common School (2002-2003) 40 children were put on the programme

Two universities conducted the project. They saw:

• Reading progress improved by 300%
• SATS Comprehension improved by 500%
• SATS Writing improved by 1700%
• Dyslexia risk reduced to no risk or borderline risk in all pupils
• Attention symptoms improved by over 80%
• Effects on SATs, reading and dyslexia risk were sustained even 12 months after completion
• Pupils on Dore (DDAT) programme made more progress than their classmates without learning problems even 12 months after the programme.

The Head Teacher is now funding all children who need it to go through the programme. The research has been peer reviewed and published in The Dyslexia Journal (Feb 2003)

More information:

Read the Peer Reviewed Article published 2003
Balsall Common Study
Read the Peer Reviewed Article published 2006
Research Study 4

Stafford Gaol Prison Study

• Significant reduction in ADHD symptoms and depression symptoms
• Significant reduction in risk of dyslexia
• 87% of prisoners said the programme helped.

Anglesey & Gwynedd LEA study

11 children were chosen with the most severe dyslexia and who were resistant to special needs teaching.

The researchers saw:

• 400% improvement in reading progress
• 400% improvement in reading non-words
• 500% improvement in detecting rhyme
• 200% improvement in spelling progress
• Significant improvement in measured sports skills
• 100% of parents said their child benefited and would recommend the programme

More information: Anglesey & Gwynedd LEA Project

Warwickshire LEA study

The researchers observed:

• Up to 300% average improvement in reading progress
• Up to 400% average progress in reading comprehension
• 800% improvement in writing
• Dore (DDAT) group make significantly better progress than a control group Greater progress in the 2nd year after starting Dore (DDAT)

More information: Warwickshire LEA study

Bedfordshire EAZ/LEA study

The researchers saw:

• Greater progress in the more severely affected children
• Up to 300% improved reading progress
• Up to 70% average improvement in writing skills
• Up to 10 standardized score points improvements in spelling (this usually gets worse with time)
• More than 90% improvement in attention skills
• 95% showed positive behavioural changes

More information: Bedfordshire EAZ Report

Current Projects

University College London fMRI study
This project started in May 2004. 45 children are involved.

This is a long term PhD study looking at both the structure of the cerebellum and the function of the cerebellum during activities associated with reading and dyslexia. The second part will look at cerebellar performance changes over time in those completing the Dore programme.

University of Sheffield, England

We are supporting several PhD students and undergraduates researching into different aspects of dyslexia and cerebellum function:

Project 1. This project is assessing dyslexic people on a number of tests of balance function and eye blink reflex responses

Project 2. This project is a collaborative project with the academic radiology department at Sheffield School of Medicine. It will be assessing the structure and function of the cerebellum in dyslexia

Project 3. This project is assessing the use of EEG (electric brain wave patterns) and Brain Evoked Potentials in dyslexia and ADHD.

Bristol Young Offenders study

This study is a collaboration between the Dore foundation, Somerset and Avon Police, the Probation Services and the department of criminology at Portsmouth University.

We will be assessing and treating 30 young offenders with Dore programme This long term study will look at academic performance and measures of ADHD and dyslexic symptoms as well as careful assessments of re-offending behaviour and subjective changes.

Future Projects

School Studies

On the back of the success of the above school based studies several LEAs are planning further studies and extending existing studies.

Cohort Studies

We now have data on the changes taking place in over 7000 subjects who have used the Dore programme. These studies are now being written up and will be submitted for publication in the UK and USA within the next 12 months.

UK University studies

We are talking to several UK universities to discuss future projects looking at dyslexia, dyspraxia (DCD) and ADHD.