What are the underlying causes of dyslexia?
The causes of dyslexia are not fully understood, but it seems to be a disorder in which many factors play a role. Genetic predisposition plays an important role in dyslexia. If one of the parents suffers from dyslexia, the probability that the child is affected by dyslexia is about 60 – 70%.
Other causes include disorders of central auditory perception and central visual perception, disorders of learning and auditory memory and influencing factors such as early brain damage, a motor developmental delay, parental neurosis, insufficient parental support, parental separation or divorce or unresolved conflicts, and low socioeconomic status. A disorder of central auditory perception means that dyslexia impairs the ability to distinguish sounds (spoken language) and store them in memory. The term “learning and auditory memory disorders” describes the fact that dyslexia is a learning disorder.
The affected persons have difficulties to store words or sounds in their memory. In summary, some different causes of dyslexia are assumed to be neurobiologically oriented. You can read more detailed information on this topic at Causes of dyslexia The term “disorders of learning and auditory memory” describes that dyslexia is a learning disorder. Those affected have difficulties in remembering words or sounds. In summary, some different causes of dyslexia are assumed to be neurobiologically oriented.You can read more detailed information on this topic at Causes of dyslexia
What tests can diagnose dyslexia?
At present, there is no direct, standardized test for dyslexia. There are, however, various ways of carrying out a test or examination for dyslexia, the LRS test for short. A dyslexia test usually includes spelling tests, reading tests and intelligence tests and a comprehensive interview with the parents of the child concerned.
Spelling ability is examined by means of a standardized spelling test, the test names are WRT, DRT and HSP. Reading ability is also examined with a standardized reading test, namely the ZLT-II or SLRT-II test. Intelligence tests for children are HAWIK, CFT and K-ABC.
To find out whether the affected children suffer from psychological factors such as fear of school or whether the dyslexia is merely due to attention difficulties, additional tests are often carried out in child and adolescent psychiatry. These include the examination of the child’s psychological state of mind, attention and concentration. Clinical tests that examine the psychological well-being are DTK, AFS and “Animals in pictures”.
Attention and concentration can, however, be examined by means of the TAP test and a detailed doctor-patient consultation. The tests should be performed by an experienced child and adolescent psychiatrist. Under certain circumstances, this person can diagnose further difficulties and psychological abnormalities and help the child concerned. Are you more interested in this topic?
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