Research is mainly in the field of Developmental Disorders and the educational implications. The Centre team work in collaboration with a number of Universities internationally and nationally. These have included Cardiff, Bristol, Leeds, Prague, RMIT in Melbourne, Haifa and Trondheim in Norway, Royal Holloway.
Examples of research include:
- A double-blind placebo-controlled study with 400 children using Omega 3 supplementation and measuring the effect on learning.
- Genes associated with DCD.
- Footprint study - exploring how children with DCD plan and move.
- Perception study - to examine what others see when looking at children with movement difficulties.
- Study exploring the social and behavioural characteristics of adolescents and adults with DCD in further and higher education.
- Executive Functioning in Students with specific learning difficulties.
CURRENT RESEARCH:
DYSLANG - Funded by the European Commission and together with partners from the UK, Bulgaria, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey and the Czech Republic, The Dyscovery Centre is taking part in the design and production of an online training course for teachers supporting a multilingual child with dyslexia. The initial stage will be a Needs Analysis questionnaire which will be accessible from this website from April 2012. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.
Animal Assisted Therapy - for children with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) in schools in South Wales.
Advanced Brain Imaging in Childhood Epilepsy (BECCTS) (in collaboration with Cardiff University) and the association with motor and language disorders.
The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) - how do students with Dyslexia and related Specific Learning Difficulties use the equipment provided to assist them with their learning (Higher Education)?
Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD)/Dyspraxia and Employment Study - understanding the adult experiences of people with DCD/ Dyspraxia in partnership with the UK umbrella organisation Movement Matters.