There is a link between dyslexia, ADHD and the "whole language" method of teaching reading. In fact, dyslexia and ADHD probably are the direct result of teaching a phonetic language pictographically, that is, of teaching a letter/sound based language system (like English) like a picutre/word based language system (like Chinese). In fact:
"Dyslexics had difficulty breaking spoken words into their component sounds (phonemes) and appeared not to know the sounds of letters and syllables...The dyslexic, in contrast, viewing letters, syllables and words and not knowing what they are, casts all about the brain for clues as to how the word parts are to go together and for meaning. What the dyslexia researchers never tell us is that in a century of dyslexia research, dyslexia has never been confirmed as an actual disease with a confirmatory, characteristic physical abnormality (without which there is no disease). "
Dyslexia Propaganda
Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD
Then again, the "whole language" approach to reading was developed by John Dewey to prevent children from learning independently in the first place, so this should come as no surprise.
I find the phrase "intensive phonics" to be amusing. Have you ever seen the "Hooked on Phonics" program? "Intensive" is not the way that I would describe it. My kids used a streamlined version of that for a month and were both reading at age four. Professional educators can turn the simplest task into a career.