Specific reading disability in Egyptian children. Clinical picture, diagnosis and prognosis.

Forty-four elementary school children with average or above average intelligence were found to be 1-2 years behind the expected level of reading ability. They were left to proceed in their conventional education program for the next 3 years. Reassessment revealed that 23 children (52%) had attained a normal reading level. 21 (48%) children remained unchanged. They were categorized into the corrective reading disability (CRD) and specific reading disability (SRD) groups, respectively. Clinical evaluation of both groups showed that children with SRD had a significantly higher incidence of: (1) illiteracy of both parents; (2) low sociocultural standard; (3) positive family history of elementary school failure; (4) abnormal optokinetic nystagmus; (5) disturbed homolateral dominance, and (6) immature EEG tracing over the occipital area. These findings could be of value in identifying high risk children for SRD.