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Reading, Laterality, and the Brain: Early Contributions on Reading Disabilities by Sara S. Sparrow

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Abstract

Although best known for work with children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, training in speech pathology and a doctorate in clinical psychology and neuropsychology was the foundation for Sara Sparrow’s long-term interest in reading disabilities. Her first papers were on dyslexia and laterality, and the maturational lag theory of developmental dyslexia proposed with Paul Satz, her mentor. The research program that emerged from this work had a wide impact on early neuropsychological models of reading disabilities. Although Sara went on to research focused on children with other developmental disabilities after she moved to Yale University, this initial research influenced her career- long interests in assessment, developmental models of disabilities, and early screening methods.

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Acknowledgments

Supported in part by a grant from the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, 1 P50 HD052117, Texas Center for Learning Disabilities.

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Correspondence to Jack M. Fletcher.

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Fletcher, J.M., Morris, R.D. Reading, Laterality, and the Brain: Early Contributions on Reading Disabilities by Sara S. Sparrow. J Autism Dev Disord 44, 250–255 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1273-2

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