Developmental dyslexia in adolescents: The emotional carnage

Summary

“Frustration Unto Death” can also be frustration unto life, as exemplified by some of the case material reported here. Some of these young people are destined for lives of dismay, underachievement, and frustration. Some will end up in prison, in mental institutions, or dead. In some, suicide is on their schedule for a later date and often will not be assigned to being related to their dyslexia.

Although successful remediation can be achieved in many adolescents with previously untreated dyslexia, in many cases it is too late or not available. Robin Jones’s story is enough proof of the fact that early identification and early intervention are the first priorities. The attempt at such identification and intervention, as exemplified by the work of de Hirsch and Jansky⁸ holds the key to prevention. The know-how is in our hands. How much longer must the children wait?