War of words over Cruise's 'dyslexia cure'

Irish Examiner/July 21, 2003

Tom Cruise has upset members of the dyslexia community by claiming in an interview that Scientology had cured his dyslexia.

Cruise, who is a founder of the Scientology-based Hollywood Education and Literacy Project, told People magazine that after he read The Basic Study Manual by L Ron Hubbard, his dyslexia disappeared.

"There is not a lot of science to support the claims that the teachings of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard are appropriate to overcoming dyslexia," said J Thomas Viall, executive director of the International Dyslexia Association.

"When an individual of the prominence of Tom Cruise makes statements that are difficult to replicate in terms of what science tells us, the issue becomes what other individuals who are dyslexic do in response to such a "success story"."