Skip to main content
Log in

Reading and speech problems as expressions of a specific language disability

  • Published:
Bulletin of the Orton Society Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Conclusion

The point we wish to emphasize here is the relationship between 1) delay in developing speech (i.e., “motor speech delay”), 2) delay in developing clear, mature, well articulated speech (i.e., persistent “infantilisms” of speech), 3) stuttering and 4) specific reading disability. Our clinical experience has taught us that the late talker and/or the one who persists in baby talk, is apt, himself, to have a reading disability or even to be a stutterer. If he himself happens to have neither of these complications, family histories usually show the occurrence of one or all of these disabilities within the wide family group as well as in the siblings of the patient. It is the repeated recurrence of these several language disability syndromes within the same family group that indicates the existence of a genetic relationship

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ainsworth, S. H.: Speech Correction Methods. Prentice-Hall, New York, 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Backus, O. andBeasley, J. F.: Speech Therapy with Children. Houghton, Cambridge, 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Barger, W. C.: The Mirror Technique for Difficult Readers. Robert L. Barclay, Great Neck, N. Y., 1960

    Google Scholar 

  4. Barger, W. C., Lavin, R., andSpeight, T. E.: Constitutional aspects in psychiatry of poor readers. Dis. Nerv. Syst.,18: 289–294, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bender, L.: A Dynamic Psychopathology of Childhood. Charles C Thomas, Publisher, Springfield,111., 1954.

  6. Bender, L.: Problems in conceptualization and communication in children with developmental alexia.In Psychopathology of Communication, edited byP. H. Hoch andJ. Zubin, Chap. 11, p. 155. New York, 1958. Grune & Stratton.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bender, L.: Research studies from Bellevue Hospital on specific reading disabilities. Bull. Orton Soc.,6: 1–3, 1956.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bender, L.: Specific reading disability as a maturational lag. Bull. Orton Soc.,7: 9–18, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Benton, A. L. andJoynt, R. J.: Early descriptions of aphasia. A. M. A. Arch. Neurol.,3: 205–222, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Berry, M. F. andEisenson, J., Speech Disorders: Principles and Practices of Therapy. Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Berry, M.: A study of the medical history of stuttering children. Speech Monographs, 5, 1938.

  12. Bond, G. L. andTinker, M. A.: Reading Difficulties, Their Diagnosis and Correction. Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Brain, R.: The neurology of language. Brain,84: 145–166, 1961.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Brain, R.: Speech Disorders: Aphasia, Apraxia and Agnosia. Butterworth, Washington, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bryngelson, B.: Sidedness as an etiological factor in stuttering. J. Genet. Psychol.,47: 204–217, 1935.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Carmichael, L., ed.: Manual of Child Psychology, Ed. 2. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1954. (See Chap. 9. Language development in children, by D. McCarthy.)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Clark, M. M.: Teaching Left-Handed Children. Philosophical Library, New York, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Cobb, S.: Borderlands of Psychiatry. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass., 1943.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Cobb, S.: Foundations of Neuropsychiatry, Ed. 6. The Williams & Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Cobb, S. andCole, E. M. Stuttering. Physiol. Rev.,19: 49–62, 1939.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Cole, E. M.: Disabilities in speaking and reading. Med. Clin. North America,22: 607–616, 1938.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Cole, E. M.: The neurologic aspects of defects in speech and reading. New England J. Med.,226: 977–980, 1942.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Cole, E. M., Learning as a psychosomatic problem: neurological aspects. Am. J. Orthopsychiat.,17: 388–390, 1947.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Cole, E. M.: Specific reading disability; problem in integration and adaptation. Am. J. Ophthal.,34: 226–232, 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  25. De Hirsch, K.: Specific dyslexia or strephosymbolia. Folia Phoniat.,4: 231–243, 1952.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. De Hirsch, K. Diagnosis of developmental language disorders. Logos,4: 3–9, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  27. De Hirsch, K.: Gestalt psychology as applied to language disturbance. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis.,120: 257–261, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  28. De Hirsch, K.: Tests designed to discover potential reading difficulties at the six- year old level. Am. J. Orthopsychiat.,27: 566–576, 1957.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Delcacato, C. H.: Treatment and Prevention of Reading Problems. Charles C Thomas, Publisher, Springfield, I11., 1959.

  30. Dozier, P.: Specific reading disability. Lancet,60: 202–204, 1940.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Drew, A. L.: Neurological appraisal of familial congenital word-blindness. Brain,79: 440–460, 1956.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Dunlap, K.: The technique of negative practice. Am. J. Psychol.,55: 270–273, 1932.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Durrell analysis of reading difficulty: new edition. World Book Co., Yonkers, New York, 1955.

  34. Eisenson, J., ed.: Stuttering; a symposium. Contributions byW. Johnson;I. P. Glauber;J. Eisenson;O. Bloodstein;J. Sheehan;C. Van Riper;R. West. Harper & Brothers, New York, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Ettlinger, G. andJackson, C. V.: Organic factors in developmental dyslexia. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med.,48: 998–1000, 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Eustis, R. S.: The primary etiology of the specific language disabilities. J. Pediat.,31: 448–55, 1947.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Eustis, R. S.: Specific reading disability; familial syndrome associated with ambidexterity and speech defects and frequent cause of problem behavior. New England J. Med.,237: 243–249, 1947.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Ewing, A. W.: Aphasia in children. Oxford Medical Publications, London, 1930.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Falck, F. J. andFalck, W. T.: Communicative disorders: multi-disciplinary problem. J. A. M. A.,178: 290–295, 1961

    Google Scholar 

  40. Falek, A.: Handedness, a family study. Am. J. Human Genet.,11: 52–62, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Fernald, G. M.: Remedial Techniques in Basic School Subjects. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1943.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Fröschels, E.: Speech Therapy. Expression Co., Boston, 1933.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Gallagher, J. R.: Specific language disability (dyslexia). Clin. Proc. Child. Hosp. (Boston),16: 3–15, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Gerstmann, J.: Syndrome of finger agnosia, disorientation for right and left agraphia and acalculia focal diagnostic value. Arch. Neurol. & Psychiat.,44: 398–408, 1940.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Gesell, A.: Biographies of Child Development. Harper & Brothers, New York, 1939.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Gillingham, A. andStillman, B. W.: Remedial Training for Children with Specific Disability in Reading, Spelling and Penmanship, Ed. 6. Educators Publication Service, Cambridge, Mass., 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Goldstein, K.: Language and Language Disturbances. Grune and Stratton, New York, 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Gooddy, W. andReinhold, M.: Congenital dyslexia and asymmetry of cerebral function. Brain,84: 231–242, 1961.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Goodglass, H. andQuadfasel, F. A.: Language laterality in left-handed aphasics. Brain,77: 521–548, 1954.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Gutehus, M. F andLayman, E. M., Reading disability, or developmental dyslexia. Clin Prcc. Child. Hosp. (Wash.),16: 15–17, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Hahn, E. E. Stuttering; Significant Theories and Therapies, Ed. 2. Stanford University Pre s, Palo Alto, Calif., 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Hallgren, B.: Specific dyslexia. Acta Psychiat. et Neurol. Suppl., 65, pp. 1–287, 1950.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Harris, A. J.: Effective Teaching of Reading. David McKay Co., Inc., New York, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Harris, A. J.: How to Increase Reading Ability, Ed. 4. David McKay Co., Inc., New York, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Hermann, K.: Reading Disability: A Medical Study of Word Blindness and Related Handicaps. Charles C Thomas, Publisher, Springfield, I11., 1959.

  56. Hinshelwood, J.: Congenital word-blindness. Lancet,1: 1506–1508, 1900.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Hinshelwood, J.: Congenital Word Blindness. H. K. Lewis & Co., London, 1917.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Ingram, T. T. S. andReid, J. F.: Developmental aphasia observed in a department of child psychiatry. Arch. Dis. Child.,31: 161–172, 1956.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Irwin, R. R.: Speech and Hearing Therapy. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Jarvis, V.: Clinical observations on the visual problem in reading disability. Psychoanal. Study Child,13: 451–470, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Johnson, M. S.: Factors relating to disability in reading. J. Exper. Educ.,26: 1–26, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Johnson, W.et al.: Speech Handicapped School Children. Harper & Bros., New York, 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Johnson, W., ed.: Speech Problems of Children. Grune & Stratton, New York, 1950.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Johnson, W. andLeutenegger, A., eds.: Stuttering in Children and Adults; Thirty Years of Research at the University of Iowa. University of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Press, 1955.

  65. Kaplan, A. A.: A theory on the biology of lateral dominance. Acta Genet. Med. (Roma),9: 318–324, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Karlin, I. W.: A psychosomatic theory of stuttering. J. Speech & Hearing Disorders,12: 319–322, 1947.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Longerich, M. C. andBordeaux, J.: Aphasia Therapeutics. The Macmillan Company, New York, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Money, J., ed.: Reading Disability: Progress and Research Needs in Dyslexia. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1962. (Papers at Johns Hopkins Conference. . . Nov. 1961.) Papers by Money, Saunders, Schiffman, Newbrough and Kelly, Rabinovitch, Benton, Zangwill, Geschwind, Howes, Birch, Hardy, Wepman, Prechtl.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Morgan, W. P.: A case of congenital word blindness. Brit. Med. J.,2: 1378, 1896.

    Google Scholar 

  70. Murphy, A. T. andFitzsimons, R. M.· Stuttering and Personality Dynamics. Ronald Press, New York, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Orton, S. T.: Familial occurrence of disorders in acquisition of language. Eugenics,3: 140–147, 1930.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Orton, S. T.: An impediment to learning to read—a neurological explanation of the reading disability. School and Society,28: 286–296, 1928.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Orton, S. T.: A physiological theory of reading disability and stuttering in children New England J. Med.,199: 1046–1052, 1928.

    Google Scholar 

  74. Orton, S. T.: Reading, Writing and Speech Problems in Children. W. W. Norton & Company, New York, 1937.

    Google Scholar 

  75. Orton, S. T.: The ‘sight reading’ method of teaching reading as a source of reading disability. J. Educ. Psychol.,20: 135–143, 1929.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  76. Orton, S. T.: Some studies in the language function. Proc. A. Res. Nerv. & Ment. Dis.,13: 614–633, 1932.

    Google Scholar 

  77. Orton, S. T. ³ Specific reading disability—strephosymbolia. J. A. M. A.,80: 1095- 1099, 1928.

    Google Scholar 

  78. Orton, S. T.: Word-blindness in school children. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat.,14: 581- 615, 1925.

    Google Scholar 

  79. O’Sullivan, M. A. andPryles, C. V.: Reading disability in children. J. Pediat.,60: 369–375, 1962.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  80. Penfield, W. andRoberts, L.: Speech and Brain Mechanisms. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New York, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  81. Rabinovitch, R. D.el al.: A research approach to reading retardation. Proc. A. Res. Nerv. & Ment. Dis.,34: 363–396, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  82. Rabinovitch, R. D. andIngram, W.: Neuro-psychiatric considerations in reading retardation. Reading Teacher,15: 433–438, 1961-62.

    Google Scholar 

  83. Radler, D. H. andKephart, N. C.: Success through Play. Harper & Brothers, New York, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  84. Schilder, P.: Mind; Perception and Thought in Their Constructive Aspects. Columbia University Press, New York, 1942.

    Google Scholar 

  85. Schilder, P.: Congenital alexia and its relation to optic perception. J. Genet. Psychol.,65: 67–88, 1944.

    Google Scholar 

  86. Smith, D. E. P. andCarrigan, P. M.: Nature of Reading Disability. Harcourt Brace & World, Inc., New York, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  87. Spalding, R. B. andSpalding, W. T.: The Writing Road to Reading. Whiteside, Inc. and Wm. Morrow and Co., New York, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  88. Stinchfield, S. M. andYoung, E. H.: Children with Delayed or Defective Speech; Motor-Kinesthetic Factors in Their Training. Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calif., 1940.

    Google Scholar 

  89. Subirama, A.: The prognosis in aphasia in relation to cerebral dominance and handedness. Brain,81: 415–425, 1958.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  90. Subirama, A.: The relationship between handedness and language function. Logos,4: 67–85, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  91. Travis, L. E., ed.: Handbook of Speech Pathology. Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., New York, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  92. Van Riper, C.: Speech Correction: Principles and Methods, Ed. 3. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  93. Van Riper, C. andIrwin J. V.: Voice and Articulation. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  94. Weisenburg, T. andMcBride, K. E.: Aphasia: A Clinical and Psychological Study. Commonwealth Fund, N. Y., 1935.

    Google Scholar 

  95. Wepman, J. M.: Recovery from Aphasia. The Ronald Press Company, New York, 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  96. West, R., Ansberry, M. andCarr, R.: The Rehabilitation of Speech, Ed. 2 byR. West, L. Kennedy, andA. Carr, (1947) and Ed. 3 (1957). Harper & Brothers, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  97. Zangwill, O. L.: Cerebral Dominance and Its Relations to Psychological Function. Oliver and Boyd, Ltd., Edinburgh, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cole, E.M., Walker, L. Reading and speech problems as expressions of a specific language disability. Bulletin of the Orton Society 16, 55–73 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02928412

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02928412

Keywords

Navigation