Multi-factorial deficits in developmental dyslexia

We investigated the role of some specific neuropsychological functions in the aetiology of developmental dyslexia. Sixty dyslexics and sixty-five age-matched controls were compared on their performance in dorsal visual processing, visuo-spatial attention, implicit learning, frontal processing, and phonological short-term memory. Results showed that the dyslexics had lower performances in comparison to the controls in dorsal visual processing, visuo-spatial attention, and phonological short-term memory, and that these functions were significantly correlated with each other. These findings are in accordance with the hypothesis that developmental dyslexia is a multi-factorial deficit.