BrightStar Dyslexia Program Offers New Hope to 25 Million Americans with Reading Difficulties

Business Wire, May 17, 2004

Business Editors/Education Writers/High-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 17, 2004

Technology-Based Program Addresses Causes of Dyslexia;

Activates Language Centers in the Brain to Improve Reading,

Writing, Spelling and Comprehension Skills

The BrightStar Dyslexia Program, a six-week, technology-based program proven to dramatically improve reading, writing, spelling and comprehension skills, is now available in the United States through a Palo Alto, Calif. learning center and a home-based program in Philadelphia, Boston, New York and Palo Alto (www.getbrightstar.com; 1-866-GET-BRIGHT/438-2744). The innovative program is based on scientific research which shows that activating the language centers of the brain has tremendous benefit to people suffering with dyslexia.

"The results we're seeing in children and adults are both statistically significant and important," stated Dr. Stefan Bondorowicz, BrightStar's director of science. "Third-party studies suggest that if dyslexia is not remediated, a child would typically progress about one month in a 1.5 month period. Under the BrightStar program we are seeing average improvements of 13 months in reading and 11 months in spelling. BrightStar seems to be offering dyslexics a real opportunity to overcome their literacy difficulties so they can move forward in their school and work life."

Since the BrightStar program was first introduced in the U.K. two years ago, more than 500 people worldwide have completed the program with measurable and lasting results. A study conducted at the University of Nottingham demonstrated a 250 percent greater improvement in dyslexics' ability to read more fluently and an almost 300 percent greater improvement in their ability to retrieve words(1), compared to counterparts not in the BrightStar program.

"BrightStar has been a freeing experience for me and my family," said Olympic Gold Medalist Duncan Goodhew (1980 Olympics; 100m breast stroke), who completed the program in 2003. "It's as if a fog has been lifted and I'm now able to read with greater clarity. This clarity and calmness has had a profound effect on me. Anything that works for dyslexics as well as BrightStar must be worth doing."

At the heart of the program is BrightStar's multi-sensory technology. The technology is based on scientific research that shows that optimizing how the brain and nervous system interact can enhance the development of language-based skills. In the BrightStar program, readers perform a simple computer exercise for 20 minutes twice a week, using a mouse to navigate an icon across a computer screen with images synchronized to the readers' heartbeat. Through this interaction, the BrightStar technology stimulates and strengthens the areas of the brain responsible for reading, writing, spelling and comprehension, including the visual neural pathways, cerebellum and eye tracking areas of the brain. The computer sessions are enhanced by weekly one-on-one tutoring sessions.

"What makes BrightStar different and innovative is that it uses sound science to help address dyslexia at its core," said Greg Robison, PhD, BrightStar's manager of science and research. "While many dyslexia programs teach people how to cope with their learning disability, the BrightStar Dyslexia Program actually works on a neurological level to produce significant, measurable improvements in a person's language skills."

The BrightStar Dyslexia Program begins with a professional assessment to identify the reader's unique difficulties with reading, writing, spelling and comprehension and provide a benchmark for later evaluation. Following the assessment, the reader participates in the six-week course (90 minutes per week) that consists of a combination of BrightStar computer exercises and one-on-one tutoring. The program is designed for people ages 7 years and older.

About Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a genetic and neurobiological condition estimated to affect between 10 to 15 percent of the population regardless of gender, ethnicity, race or socio-economic status. In the United States that equates to 25 million people, or 1 in 10. Classified as a learning disability, dyslexia does not affect a person's intelligence. Rather, it interferes with their ability to process language-based information, creating difficulties with language, memory and sequencing processes of basic mathematics.

About the BrightStar Dyslexia Program

The BrightStar Dyslexia Program is based on research conducted at the University of Nottingham. The program, developed and marketed by Epoch Innovations, was made commercially available at the first BrightStar center in the United Kingdom nearly two years ago, and introduced to the United States in spring 2004. Over the next two years, at least five additional BrightStar centers are expected to open nationwide. More information can be found at www.getbrightstar.com or by calling 1-866-GET-BRIGHT (1-866-438-2744).

About Epoch Innovations

Epoch Innovations was founded in 1999 and employs 50 people worldwide. From its headquarters in San Francisco, the company is pioneering the emerging sector of neuroperformance, which utilizes technology to optimize how the brain and nervous system interact to improve physical and cognitive performance. The company developed and markets the BrightStar Dyslexia Program and is researching the potential of their proprietary technology to address such neurological conditions as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's disease and autism. More information can be found at www.epochinv.com.