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Male and female brains are different. It’s a scientific fact, yet you probably don’t need science to believe it. You observe it every day in how your students interact, how they play, maybe even how they learn. Have you ever wondered what these differences mean for struggling readers?

A recent study conducted by neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center considered this question through a study of dyslexia. The study compared the brain anatomy of people with dyslexia to the brain anatomy of people without it. Unlike similar studies, the Georgetown study separated males from females and looked for differences between the two groups.

The findings showed that dyslexia manifested differently in male and female brains. Males with dyslexia were found to have less gray matter than their non-dyslexic counterparts in the areas of the brain used to process language. Females with dyslexia, on the other hand, had less gray matter in the areas used for sensory and motor processing. These findings have important implications for understanding dyslexia and how to treat it, particularly whether males and females need a different approach. Click here if you wish to obtain a copy of the full study.

We live in an exciting time of brain research. We are hopeful that such studies will foster a deeper understanding of how students learn and how they are best supported. Do you have thoughts on this topic? We’d love to hear from you!