Patient with 'Word Blindness' Able to Read Again with Special Technique

Researchers looked at a technique that may be able to help patients with 'word blindness' read again. This rare neurological condition makes it difficult for patients to write and understand the spoken word, thus hurting their reading ability.

The study notes the following regarding the technique, via a press release: "When shown a word, the patient looks at the first letter. Although she clearly sees it, she cannot recognize it. So beginning with the letter A, she traces each letter of the alphabet over the unknown letter until she gets a match. For example, when shown the word Mother, she will trace the letters of the alphabet, one at a time, until she comes to M and finds a match. Three letters later, she guesses correctly that the word is Mother."

"To see this curious adaption in practice is to witness the very unique and focal nature" of the deficit, the authors write, via the release.

For a 40-year-old kindergarten teacher, the researchers note how blindness came on suddenly. Though she was unable to make sense of her lesson plan when this occurred, she was also unable to tell time.

The condition was due to a stroke that was caused by an unusual type of blood vessel inflammation within the brain known as the primary central nervous system angiitis.

After attempting many new techniques to teach herself how to read again, she taught herself a remarkable new idea that employed tactile skills that she possessed.

The study notes that the woman can have an emotional reaction to a word, even if she can't read it. Shown the word "dessert," she says "Oooh, I like that." But when shown "asparagus," she says, "Something's upsetting me about this word."

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Neurology.