Dyslexia and self-control. An ego psychoanalytic perspective

Dyslexia and the self-control problems that frequently accompany it are viewed from an ego psychoanalytic perspective. Dyslexia is conceptualized as resulting from an ego deficit in language processing; this deficit is seen as contributing to the ADHD-type symptoms often seen in dyslexic children. Lacking certain crucial components of linguistic competence, the dyslexic child is therefore also lacking a basic tool of impulse control. As a result, this child may exhibit a type of language deficit based impulsivity that has dynamic characteristics which are diagnostically significant. In addition, the ego deficit associated with dyslexia affects and interacts with unfolding drives, especially during the oedipal phase; unlike the more normal child, whose newly ascendant language skills help to inhibit oedipal fantasies and impulses, the dyslexic youngster is prone to a marked intensification of oedipal concerns, especially as these interact with actual experiences of failure. The treatment implications of these issues are discussed.