Harold Levinson
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Harold Levinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Harold Nathan Levinson |
| Occupations | Psychiatrist and Neurologist |
| Known for | Contributions to Dyslexia research |
| Website | Dyslexia Online |
Harold Levinson is an American psychiatrist and author, known for developing his cerebellar theory of treating dyslexia.
Levinson has pursued alternative theories and treatments for dyslexia since the 1960s.[1] In 1973 he and Jan Frank published an article in the Journal of Child Psychiatry suggesting dyslexia was caused by a faulty connection between the cerebellum and the other parts of the brain, instead of the cerebrum.[2]
By 1974 Levinson's cerebellar and related inner-ear theory that dyslexia has been mentioned in the popular press.[3][4][5] His cerebellar-vestibular theory led him to treating children with dyslexia as an inner ear problem, using anti-motion sickness medication. He used the same over-the-counter medication to treat the associated attention deficit, hyperactivity, impaired concentration and distractibility.[6] He considers that his findings suggested that cerebellar problems cause a scrambling of information, which secondarily confuse higher brain processors.[7]
Levinson appeared on television to discuss his treatment in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[8] In 1985, he observed that 750 out of 1000 dyslexia patients also had problems with balance and coordination.[9] By 1986 Levinson had treated more than 8,000 patients with dyslexia, and reported a success rate of between 75% and 80%.[10] He had also studied more than 20,000 patients in total. One of the additional psychological problems Levinson determined was associated with the same brain disorder is the rise of adult phobias.[11] Levinson's observations led him to believe that up to 90% of people who have phobias also have cerebellar and inner-ear malfunctions, leading to patient's belief the fear is rational. He published a book entitled Phobia Free in which his findings were outlined.[12]
Levinson was interviewed on The Phil Donahue Show in the early 1980s,[13] in addition to many other network shows like Lifestyles with Regis Philbin, and The Today Show, The Morning Show.[14] Levinson used to be a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at New York University Medical Center.[15] Levinson became the director of the Medical Dyslexic and Attention Deficit Disorder Treatment Centre on Long Island.[16] He is now the Clinical and Research Director of the Levinson Medical Center for Learning Disabilities, which has had locations in New York, England, and Hong Kong.[17]
In the 1970s Levinson also developed instruments called the 3-D Optical, Auditory and Tactile Scanners, used to gather visual, auditory- phonetic and touch sensory data related to the dyslexic condition. The scanners were used by Levinson to screen and diagnose children and adults for dyslexia.[18]
