Literacy Apps

• Recently, many apps (over 500) have been released that claim to help with dyslexia, either by helping manage the symptoms or by helping improve literacy skills.

• Apps include things like Learn with Homer, which helps preschoolers learn reading skills, and Easy Spelling Aid + Translator and Dyslexia Support, which spells words out loud from text and includes multiple different fonts designed to help people with dyslexia.
• While the apps do seem to be utilized by many, a review of the apps found that most are using the word "dyslexia" to attract potential customers to their app without specifically designing it for dyslexics. However, some apps are being developed under the guidance of dyslexia experts, however, "the onus for determining the quality of most apps is left to users."
• Mobile apps have been called the one of the "dynamic and disruptive forces that are rapidly reshaping the intersection of dyslexia and technology," thus illustrating the momentous affect they are having on the treatment landscape for dyslexia.

Music Lessons

• Recent research shows that music can be beneficial as a therapy for dyslexic children.
• The research suggests that musical therapy should be used as part of a "systematic therapeutic and instructional practice for dyslexic children."

• While no specific branded program for this type of therapy was found, some examples of ways music is being used to help treat dyslexia include through rhythm development or piano lessons.  

Visual Treatment

• Scientists recently discovered a key difference in light-receptor cell patterns in the eyes of those with dyslexia and those without.
• Specifically, the researchers found that in dyslexic patients, there was no "dominant eye" which caused images, specifically text, to be repeated as a mirror image, causing reading errors.
• First, this impacts the diagnostic market for dyslexia, which could now be simplified to a basic eye examination, instead of through a series of psychological tests.
• Additionally, it allowed the researchers to develop a low-cost treatment. The treatment uses an extremely fast blinking LED light which caused the mirror image to disappear for the dyslexic patient, causing them to only see one image and read more clearly.
• The treatment is not currently marketed, as it is still undergoing additional research and testing. However, experts say that it could drastically impact the treatment market for dyslexia.

Research Strategy

Lexplore

• Lexplore is a reading assessment tool that utilizes AI and eye patterns to assess a subjects reading ability and provide recommendations for further instruction.
• The app uses eye tracking software to measure "when, where, and how children’s eyes move in relation to the words they are reading," which can provide insight into the cognitive process they are going through when reading.
• The AI then analyzes the patterns of eye movement to identify exactly what process the subject is going through, which can provide insight into the level of difficulty they are having and provides a starting point for identifying the type of reading problem.
• Lexplore is specifically targeted towards educators, to assist them in assessing and monitoring students, as well as identifying potential next steps for instruction.
• The app boasts that it is fun, fast, accurate and objective, as opposed to past testing mechanisms that could easily become frustrating, boring, or be influenced by emotional factors or other biases.
• Since prior means of testing children for dyslexia were very time-consuming, not every child was screened, which resulted in many children who were having problems being missed. Since Lexplore is fast, every child can be screened.
• The tool is also less expensive than in-person expert evaluations.
• The use of AI and eye tracking is in the "embryonic stages", however, it is expected to be utilized further in the future to develop more treatments and solutions.
• Lexplore currently offers different product models. In the "white glove" package, Lexplore experts go into schools and test the kids themselves. Another option is that the company reps teach school staff how to use the product and then the school staff tests children whenever they need to. Finally, the product can be sold with just the equipment and no in-person training.
• The company recently expanded to the US with a pilot program.

RADARMISSION

•  RADARMISSION uses eye tracking software to diagnose and treat dyslexia in children.
• The company was founded in Greece, but has been tested at Harvard University.
• The program uses "proprietary, patented software" combined with eye tracking to identify exact points of reading difficulty within users and help diagnose dyslexia.
• RADARMISSION claims to be 99.3% accurate within 15 minutes, removing the subjectivity and expense of traditional diagnostic methods.
• The company highlights its cost-effectiveness, ease of use and accuracy to differentiate itself in the market.
• The company goes further than diagnosis, however, and also uses the data collected from the testing to prescribe a treatment plan and track the progress.
• RADAR is being promoted to educators to test every student, and also as a way to clear the backlog of disputed dyslexia cases, since the RADAR test can determine with 99% accuracy if a person has any dyslexia or not, something that traditional, objective methods cannot do.
• Additionally, RADAR is being marketed as a way to diagnose incarcerated individuals in the US prison system in order to meet the requirements of the First Step Act passed by President Trump.

Research Strategy