Dyslexia Improvement in Medication Trial

Dyslexia or developmental reading disorder is a common learning disorder affecting about 5% of the school age population.

Treatment of dyslexia is difficult and typically is focused on special education classes and reading exercises.

Medication treatment for dyslexia is nearly unheard of as no FDA-approved drug is available for the condition.

However, a recent randomized clinical drug trial found evidence to support the potential use of atomoxetine for dyslexia.

Atomoxetine is a drug approved for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder but it has not received much attention in dyslexia or other learning disorders.

Dr. Sally Shaywitz of Yale University along with colleagues recently published results of their clinical trial of atomoxetine in dyslexia with the following key design and results:
Study population: Children and adolescents between 10-16 years of age with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of dyslexia alone (N=58) or dyslexia and ADDH (N=124).
Medication intervention: atomoxetine 1.0 to 1.4 mg/kg/day or placebo
Outcome measures: Woodcock Johnson III, Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing, Gray Oral Reading Test and Test of Word Reading Efficacy
Results: Atomoxetine improved reading scores in both the dyslexia alone and dyslexia and ADHD groups compared to placebo

The authors note in the discussion that their study suggests the potential for atomoxetine as an adjunct to traditional behavioral and academic interventions in the treatment of dyslexia.

This study will need replication. It might also prompt further study of other stimulant medications such as methylphenidate in dyslexic populations.

Readers with more interest in this trial can access the free full-text manuscript by clicking on the PMID link in the citation below.

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Shaywitz S, Shaywitz B, Wietecha L, Wigal S, McBurnett K, Williams D, Kronenberger WG, & Hooper SR (2016). Effect of Atomoxetine Treatment on Reading and Phonological Skills in Children with Dyslexia or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbid Dyslexia in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology PMID: 27410907