IMMUNE DISORDERS AND DYSLEXIA - A STUDY OF ASTHMATIC-CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

The Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda hypothesis of cerebral lateralization po stulates an association between immune disorders and learning disabili ties. So far, the empirical evidence for such a relationship has been ambiguous. The present study is an attempt to investigate the hypothes is in a population where all the individuals were affected by immune d isorders. Thus, 29 students in a special school for asthmatic children (total number of students in the school: 32) were investigated. A num ber of reading tests with special focus on word decoding were administ ered. The parents filled in a detailed questionnaire on the prevalence of reading difficulties and immune disorders among the other family m embers. The proportion of students with reading problems - especially phonological problems - was much higher than would be expected in a no rmal population. Among the family members we also found an elevated in cidence of both reading problems and immune disorders. A cautious inte rpreptation of these findings leads to tentative and partial support o f the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda hypothesis.