Abstract
The Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda hypothesis of cerebral lateralization postulates an association between immune disorders and learning disabilities. So far, the empirical evidence for such a relationship has been ambiguous. The present study is an attempt to investigate the hypothesis in a population where all the individuals were affected by immune disorders. Thus, 29 students in a special school for asthmatic children (total number of students in the school: 32) were investigated. A number of reading tests with special focus on word decoding were administered. The parents filled in a detailed questionnaire on the prevalence of reading difficulties and immune disorders among the other family members. The proportion of students with reading problems — especially phonological problems — was much higher than would be expected in a normal population. Among the family members we also found an elevated incidence of both reading problems and immune disorders. A cautious interpreptation of these findings leads to tentative and partial support of the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda hypothesis.
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Tønnessen, F.E., Høien, T., Lundberg, I. et al. Immune disorders and dyslexia. Read Writ 6, 151–160 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01026910
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01026910