Developmental reading disorder: predictors of outcome in adolescents who received early diagnosis and treatment

In this study of the course of developmental reading disorder, 40 Caucasian children, who were diagnosed and began reading therapy at 7-years-old were followed-up at 14-years-old. A variety of methodological concerns were addressed by careful screening of the subjects, by attempting to include a representative population, by comparing standardized measures statistically at initial and follow-up testing, and by using a homogeneously delayed population. It was found that 40% of the subjects were reading appropriately at follow-up. Improvement and recovery were significantly related to parents' educational status, especially to IQ, and not to gender of subject or to having a speech articulation or hyperactivity problem. It was concluded that for those who receive early diagnosis and treatment of developmental reading disorder (1) IQ may be a good predictor of recovery potential and (2) remedial efforts for the low IQ dyslexic child may be optimal if cognitive therapy is included in addition to reading therapy.