J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1993; 5:195-199
Copyright © 1993 by American Neuropsychiatric Association
Adult familial dyslexia: a retrospective developmental and psychosocial profile
E Feldman, BE Levin, H Lubs, M Rabin, ML Lubs, B Jallad and A Kusch
Department of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Fl 33101.
This study investigated the developmental, demographic, educational, and
psychosocial outcome of 36 adults with third-generation familial dyslexia.
Control subjects were 44 unaffected age-matched family members. Compared
with control subjects, those with familial dyslexia 1) had similar
incidences of perinatal complications, left-handedness, and right-left
confusion but reported more early speech/language problems; 2) performed
worse in reading and spelling but had similar educational achievement; 3)
were more likely to report depression/anxiety symptoms and to have
attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity; and 4) were similar in
medical history, marital stability, and mean income. Data suggest that,
despite continued isolated reading deficits, carefully selected subjects
with adult familial dyslexia do not show the previously described downward
course of the learning-disabled population.
