The Biological Basis of Dyslexia

Abstract

Reading and writing are primarily cultural skills which are acquired as one becomes a member of the cultural community. Thus, learning to read and write cannot he compared with learning to walk or talk, which are more general, biologically based functions. No normal child can avoid learning to walk or talk. This has always been so, in all parts of the world. On the other hand, reading and writing are not natural functions. It is not until the present day, and in our part of the world, that the majority of people can read. But it is still estimated that 800 million adults in different parts of the world are illiterate. This is not because of cognitive dysfunction, but because they have not grown up in a culture that is based on written language.