Gratifyingly, Paul Flynn has now followed up some of the discussions around the Dore treatment for dyslexia and other conditions:
What EDM persuaded great journalist Ben Goldacre (below) to say “Parliament congratulating bloggers while castigating the media? It’s like a dream come true. I’m going to put on some Def Leppard and punch the air.”
It was about the so called-Dyslexia cure Dore. Now the splendid Welsh Language current affairs programme Taro Naw is preparing a programme on the debacle.It was convenient to do an interview on the Maes yesterday as my contribution. One of the questions was how could we argue against the value of Dore for dyslexic children if parents notice an improvement.
This is not unusual even when medicine and treatment are inert. Placebos have a great record in curing illnesses. Nature and the human body are marvellous at improving health.
Dore expanded rapidly with a treatment that cost £2,000 and had not been subjected to rigorous scientific appraisal. They have gone through the financial hoop. Ben Goldacre wrote, “The media repeatedly promoted Dore through uncritical anecdotal promotion using someone who was paid to promote the company, and others, despite repeated rulings from regulators and a gigantic chorus of academics pointing out that the evidence for the “miracle cure” was rubbish.”
I have written today to the following shows asking them to make amends for the harm they did in promoting Dore. They include the Jeremy Vine Show, Channel Five News, Radio Five Live, BBC London, ITV Central, ITV Yorkshire, the Daily Mail, the Daily Record, and Scotland on Sunday, Tonight with Trevor McDonald and You and Yours.
Their research was shoddy and they should start to tell the truth about Dore. There are rumours that it will re-appear as a new company.
Looking at Dore founder Wynford Dore’s latest video, it seems like Dore clients in the UK are already being seen again. How long until they start selling a version of the Dore treatment to new clients once again?
I wonder if the media outlets that Flynn is contacting will act to make amends for the harm they did: I certainly hope that Flynn has more success than I did. Will we soon be seeing You and Yours (which is, after all, BBC Radio 4’s flagship consumer programme) investigating the role of the mainstream media in the promotion of Dore, and in what this promotion cost countless families in time, effort and money. If that happens, then it really will call for appropriate music.
16 responses so far ↓
dvnutrix // August 6, 2008 at 12:22 am
Meet the new Dore - same as the old Dore - Don’t get fooled again. This would have worked if Goldacre had preferred The Who to Def Leppard.
Irim // August 8, 2008 at 9:30 am
Ok, sorry, it has to be said: No one should go through that Dore - we really need to close and lock that Dore.
It’s pun Friday!
Via // August 12, 2008 at 10:13 am
Don’t like to admit it but Mr Wynford Dore I think is a believer of “when one door shuts another opens” (cringe factor 10/10)
Learning Difficulties is such a lucrative area of business.
Via // August 12, 2008 at 3:57 pm
A great many faults may be laid at Wynford’s Door.
Mary Parsons // August 13, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Sneaky enjoyment of the puns. I’ve tried and failed to come up with one on the Joseph number, “Close every door to me”.
One of the things I am concerned about is that people may somehow believe that this is a stream-lined, revamped and rehabilitated Dore that is worth their money.
Via // August 13, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Mary, your concern have foundation, especially when you consider the phrases used on the lastest introduction to MyDore.
Phrases, such as, “many years of extensive research and exciting new technology . . . the next generation.”
Some of the comments on Dore Talk and Myomancy already display an understanding of MyDore being ‘evolutionary’.
The belief and support by some for Wynford Dore is almost evangelical.
Via // August 13, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I’ve just come across some of MyDore’s latest research.
In reference to Wynford Dore’s analogy that an immature or underdeveloped cerebellum is like having a hole in a bucket or a colander.
The following is the type of qualitative research that MyDore builds its credibility with:
WYNFORD : There’s a hole in my bucket, dear doctor, dear doctor, There’s a hole in the bucket, dear doctor, a hole.
DOCTOR : Well fix it dear Wynford, dear Wynford, dear Wynford, well fix it dear Wynford, dear Wynford, fix it
WYNFORD : With what shall I fix it, dear doctor, dear doctor, with what shall I fix it, dear doctor, with what?
DOCTOR : With straw, dear Wynford, dear Wynford, dear Wynford, with straw, dear Wynford, dear Wynford, with straw.
But the straw is too long.
Then cut it.
With what shall I cut it?
With a knife
But the knife is too blunt.
Well sharpen it
With what shall I sharpen it?
With a stone
But the stone is too dry
Then wet it
With what shall I wet it?
With the water
But where shall I get it?
In the well
With what shall I fetch it?
With the bucket
Nice repetitive tune though!
Enjoy!
dvnutrix // August 14, 2008 at 1:24 am
They’re still going with the bucket/colander analogy? I know we wrote up that they were using in 2003 but I had hoped the absurdity was so apparent that they would drop this as soon as convenient.
Via // August 14, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Don’t know for sure how it is being used in 2008 but I do know in 2006/2007 it was part of the ‘training’ for Programme Adivsor and part of the power point presentation.
In March 2007 the following is quoted in a speech by Conservative M P Cairns
Cairns: Helping dyslexic people in Wales
Speech to the National Assembly for Wales.
“Wynford Dore and Scott Quinnell use the analogy of a bucket, saying that the programme will help to block any holes in the bucket, but that it is then up to the child to fill it by learning to read with the new skills that he or she has developed.”
Also see this link, dated 18th July 2008
http://media.dorecentres.com/PDF/Wynford_Client_Communication_18_Jul_2008.pdf
Quoted from this link is the following:
“So – my point is, by combining the best in teaching with the best in cerebellar development we could get amazing results. In layman’s terms….if you repair the hole in the bucket before you try to fill it you get it full quicker. Thus I contest that dyslexia researchers really should be welcoming the breakthrough we have pioneered with open arms. ”
http://media.dorecentres.com/PDF/Wynford_Client_Communication_18_Jul_2008.pdf
Thanks
Via // August 14, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Wynford clearly likes the analogy:
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
FOUR CORNERS
Investigative TV journalism at its best.
TRANSCRIPT
Program Transcript
Read the program transcript of Matthew Carney’s report “The Behaviour Business”.
Reporter: Matthew Carney
Date: 06/08/2007
“WYNFORD DORE, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, DORE: You’ve got to repair the hole in the bucket before you try and fill the bucket and what we do is we create the physiological ability to acquire knowledge, acquire skills, so that it can be retained in the brain and used whenever needed.”
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2007/s1997916.htm
Via // August 15, 2008 at 4:59 pm
If you’ve not listened to this already then it’s worth a listen.
This programme was aired today, will be repeated again on Sunday at 9 pm for those who are unable to listen over the internet.
Enjoy!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/facethefacts/
Via // August 15, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Check this link out. This Radio 4 programme was aired today.
If you’re unable to listen over the internet the programme is repeated on Sunday Evening at 9 pm.
Thanks
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/facethefacts/
jonhw // August 15, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Thanks - that’s an interesting listen.
Via // September 6, 2008 at 7:34 pm
It would seem from a comment posted on Dore Talk the BBC has been filmng at the Kenilworth Centre.
Apparently, Wynford Dore was filmed talking to a Mother who has her daughter on the “MyDore” programme.
Let’s hope the programme maker take heed from Paul Fynn’s advice and present a programme that is highly critical and not sanitised in any way.
dvnutrix // September 6, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Hmm - it would very much depend on how this is pitched. But, if Dore are co-operating with the film then they may well have had some influence on the choice of people for the film.
jonhw // September 7, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Thanks Via. Yes, it will be interesting to see how this comes out.
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