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- Knowledgebase: Behavioral, Developmental, and Emotional Problems
- Questions about behavioral and emotional problems, Autism, developmental delays.
- 22. Dyslexia - Top
- Definition
A reading disability resulting from a defect in the ability to process graphic symbols.
Causes, Incidence and Risk Factors
There are about 2 to 8% of elementary-age children that have some degree of reading disability. Developmental reading disorder (DRD) or dyslexia is not attributable to eye problems but instead is a defect of higher cortical (brain) processing of symbols. Children with DRD may have trouble rhyming and separating the sounds in spoken words. These abilities appear critical in the process of learning to read.
Initial reading skills are based on word recognition. More developed reading skills require the linking of words into a coherent sentence (thought). DRD children may be unable to form images from the meanings of the words or to process the words into an idea which is understandable. At this level, reading may fail at its primary function, which is to convey information.
Dyslexia or developmental reading disorder may appear in combination with developmental writing disorder and developmental arithmetic disorder. All of these processes involve the manipulation of symbols and the conveyance of information by their manipulation. These conditions may appear singly or in any combination.
Other causes of learning disability and, in particular, reading disability, must be ruled out before a diagnosis of DRD can be made. Cultural and educational shortfalls, emotional problems, mental retardation, and diseases of the brain (for example AIDS) can all cause learning disabilities.
Symptoms
possible family history of learning disorder
difficulty learning to recognize written words
difficulty rhyming
difficulty determining the meaning (idea content) of a simple sentence
may occur in combination with writing or arithmetic learning problems
Signs And Tests
Other causes of learning disabilities will need to be ruled out before the diagnosis of dyslexia can be confirmed.
Treatment
Remedial instruction has remained the best approach to this type of reading disorder.
Expectations (Prognosis)
Marked improvement in reading and understanding can be achieved with remedial instruction. However, difficulties persist throughout adulthood.
Complications
problems in school, including behavior problems (an indirect result, such as a reaction to teasing by other children) and loss of self esteem
problems with employment as adulthood is reached (especially if the child has not obtained remedial instruction and coping skills) - Updated: March 5, 2001
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- Knowledgebase: Behavioral, Developmental, and Emotional Problems
James L Horwitz, MD
David C. Thomas, MD
Barbara Lindberg, PNP