Holford Watch: Patrick Holford, nutritionism and bad science

The Sun, Times and Independent have just published articles on Dore UK going into administration: it’s great to see this getting into the mainstream media. The Sun’s the Times’ articles are excellent - so we’ll look at those first. Then we’ll take a brief look at why the Independent’s article is so poor.

The Sun’s excellent article on the closure of Dore UK. The article reports that:

A CONTROVERSIAL treatment for dyslexia backed by rugby ace Kenny Logan has closed its doors.

The Dore Programme claims a 90 per cent success rate treating dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD…Others were less convinced…Professor Maggie Snowling, a literacy expert based at York University, described a trial which supposedly proved the effectiveness of the Dore Programme as flawed…She said: “There were no significant improvements on the key tasks of reading and writing…You would never have a drug marketed on the basis of such flimsy evidence.”

Shirley Cramer of the charity Dyslexia Action added: “The demise of the ‘miracle cure’ supports the importance of evidence-based practices for people with dyslexia and specific learning difficulties.”

This is an excellent, well-balanced piece of science reporting: it gives an accurate summary of the lack of good quality evidence that the Dore programme works, and - importantly - helps to let people know that Dore UK has gone into administration.

The article also asks that those affected by the closure should call Sun Health on 020 7782 4099. We would encourage readers who would like to share their stories to get in touch with the Sun: if this story is anything to go by, any follow-up should also be well-handled.

The Time’s strong piece on Dore UK’s move into administration focuses more on how the company (mal)functioned:

A company that promoted a “miracle cure” for dyslexia has gone into liquidation. Thousands of parents and staff may have been left out of pocket by the collapse of the company, which was taking advance payments until the day it closed…Parents desperate to help their children paid up to £2,000 for the treatments…Details of the programme were treated as commercial secrets, even in academic papers.

Several papers were published in academic journals claiming success for the programme, but without persuading independent experts of its value. One paper, published in Dyslexia, prompted the resignation of five members of the editorial board, and nine critical commentaries from academics.

Dore expanded through personal endorsements, and publicity in the media. Kenny Logan, a former Scottish rugby international, was a paid consultant. But complaints to the Independent Television Commission and to Ofcom about Dore’s methods were upheld. Ofcom found that Dore had been in breach of rules on evidence, assessment of medical claims and impressions of professional advice and support.

So - two good articles in today’s papers. Two points to the mainstream media.

But now we come to the Indendent’s effort. It’s late now, and I don’t even think it’s worth quoting from the Independent’s article on Dore. The article reports the facts about the closures of UK Dore centres - though it’s a bit out of date on this, as it doesn’t mention that Dore UK is now in administration. The article also details a bit of the theory behind Dore. What it completely, dismally fails to do - however - is to assess whether there is good quality evidence that Dore works. The article reports that “The Dore program is one of a number of unusual approaches to dyslexia” - which it is, but the point isn’t whether it is unusual or not, the point is whether it works.

Unfortunately, the Independent fails to make clear that Dore have not provided good evidence that their treatment works for those with specific learning difficulties. I wonder if a couple of years of standing on wobble boards and throwing beanbags would help them to do a better job next time?