What brain scans teach us about how dyslexic kids feel when they read - Dr. Rebecca Troy

Dyslexia, brain plasticity, and how movement and multisensory activities can change how a child reads—this episode with Dr. Rebecca Troy covers it all.

We talk about:

1. What brain scans reveal about dyslexia

2. How to rewire the brain for reading in just 10–15 minutes a day

3. Why traditional literacy programs miss the mark

4. What it really means when a child isn’t “developmentally ready” to read

5. How identity and confidence are shaped by the way we teach

Dr. Rebecca Troy is an expert in educational neuroscience and dyslexia interventions. She explains why typical reading programs fall short, how to build new brain pathways through tactile learning, and how to help children reconnect with their strengths.

Claudie Pomares, co-creator of Sensory Enrichment Therapy, shares practical examples of sensory games that help nonverbal children connect emotionally to letters and sounds.

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⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome and intro

00:17 Rebecca’s personal story and family roots in dyslexia

02:43 Why dyslexia doesn’t “go away” without support

05:43 What brain scans reveal about dyslexic readers

07:17 Brain changes from remediation—overcompensation explained

08:51 Repetition lowers stress and builds automaticity

10:19 Why Rebecca’s program starts without letters

13:24 Claudie’s protocol for introducing the letter O through sensory games

14:37 Serotonin, soft touch, and memory

16:04 How Rebecca’s son learned letter sounds with story, sign, and movement

18:43 Patterns vs. rules: why traditional phonics frustrates kids

20:05 Reframing dyslexia as a superpower

21:55 Why parents are often the most effective reading coaches

22:34 Using real-world objects before abstract symbols

23:43 Teaching phonemic awareness with Legos and Cheerios

26:30 Claudie on creating “space” in the brain for new learning

27:56 Anchoring learning through experience, not rote

30:17 Making sure sensory systems are in sync before symbol work

31:57 When and how to add movement for deeper learning

34:07 Comparing whole-brain vs. traditional methods

35:54 Rebecca’s home-based model for parent-led success

38:48 Identity-first reading: confidence before competence

40:40 How repetition without meaning can traumatize a learner

42:22 Why the brain learns through patterns—not rules