Many parents assume services for children with learning differences are regulated and evidence-based, but clear national standards are absent in many countries. Without formal oversight, untrained individuals can present themselves as experts and offer ineffective interventions. A 2023 UNESCO policy review and a global International Bureau of Education survey found widespread lack of licensing and formal guidelines, creating large quality variation. Pseudoscientific programs often use brain-based language to claim to "rewire the brain" or "cure" learning differences despite lacking supporting data. Professionals should critically evaluate interventions and parents should vet research, credentials, and program transparency before trusting claims.
When parents search for help for their child with learning differences, they often assume that the services available are regulated, vetted, and based on sound evidence. Unfortunately, in many countries, there are no clear national standards to ensure this. Without formal oversight, anyone can present themselves as an expert, even without the training or background to assess learning needs or provide effective interventions.
A 2023 UNESCO policy review noted that in several regions, special education services are provided without clear licensing requirements or standardized oversight. Similarly, a global survey by the International Bureau of Education found that more than 40 percent of countries lack formal guidelines for who can assess or provide interventions for children with learning difficulties. This creates significant variation in quality and leaves parents with the difficult task of discerning which services are credible and which may be based on unfounded claims.
This lack creates the perfect conditions for pseudoscience to thrive. Interventions may claim to "rewire the brain," "unlock potential," or "cure" learning differences through methods that sound innovative but lack supporting data. Many of these services deliberately use brain-based language because the brain is inherently complex and not fully understood, even by leading neuroscientists.
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