The cornerstone of the DavisTM procedures is the discovery that dyslexia and many other learning disabilities stem not from brain deficits or damage, but from a perceptual talent. Ronald Dell Davis found that a key element of the thought process used by dyslexic individuals is the ability to unconsciously alter sensory perceptions and perceive them as reality, and that this ability often interferes with developing good academic skills.
The practical consequence of this discovery is that when dyslexics are made aware of this thought process and shown how to intentionally turn it off, they cease to experience disorientations and perceptual distortions while reading or writing. This discovery then led to an entirely new understanding of the dyslexic learning style, and the subsequent development of new assessment, counseling, and study methods.