Executive functions in children with dyslexia

There is little data available concerning the executive functions of children with dyslexia. The small number of existing studies in this field focus on single aspects of these functions such as working memory. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess a variety of aspects of executive functioning in children with dyslexia. Forty-two children with dyslexia and 42 non-dyslexic children were examined using a neuropsychological test battery. The test battery consisted of standardised tests examining the assessment of working memory, concept formation, inhibition, flexibility, problem solving and fluency functions. Comparison between the test performance of non-dyslexic children and children with dyslexia revealed obvious difficulties of children with dyslexia in tests measuring working memory. Inhibition of inappropriate reactions was impaired in children with dyslexia in more demanding tests, but not in simple ones. Furthermore, children with dyslexia displayed impairments of both verbal and figural fluency functions. While in comparison to non-dyslexic children no disturbances of concept formation were observed, problem solving seemed to be partially impaired. The present findings suggest that children with dyslexia demonstrate impairments in a variety of executive functions. This should be considered in the development of new concepts in the treatment of dyslexia.