A return to oral question that was asked by Mr. Sam Gargan on October 18th regarding the treatment of dyslexia/fetal alcohol syndrome.
Madam Speaker, the use of alcohol by a pregnant woman can cause many problems for the child. However, dyslexia is not necessarily caused by the mother's drinking.
Unfortunately, once a child has been damaged by alcohol, and has fetal alcohol syndrome or effects, or if something else has caused them to have dyslexia, it is not possible to provide treatment that will cure that problem. What can be done is to try to provide special school and family support services that can help the child to function better in spite of their handicap.
Alcohol causes permanent damage in the unborn child, and such children will then require help in coping throughout their lives. Teachers do have techniques to help people to read, even if they are dyslexic, but the dyslexia itself will always be there.