Dyslexia, a developmental disorder, is characterized by an unexpected difficulty in reading in children and adults who otherwise possess the intelligence, motivation, and education considered necessary for developing accurate and fluent reading (Lyon, 1995). Dyslexia (or specific reading disability) represents one of the most common problems affecting children and adults; in the United States the prevalence of dyslexia is estimated to range from 5% to 17%, with up to 40% of school-age children reading below grade level (S.E. Shaywitz, 1998). Dyslexia is the most common and most carefully studied of the learning disabilities (LDs), affecting 80% of all individuals identified as having LD (Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities, 1987; Lerner, 1989, S.E. Shaywitz, 1998).

Although individuals with dyslexia often have co-existing conditions, such as attention issues, not all individuals with dyslexia necessarily have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or attention deficit disorder (ADD). Consequently, although medication may be one option for mediating attention issues, it is important to stress the need for a differential diagnosis prior to such an intervention. Psychotropic drugs will not improve reading and language disorders and, in fact, may preclude the implementation of the most successful education intervention.

Thomas Armstrong, M.D. (1995), wrote: "ADD has appeal because it implies a specific neurological condition for which no one can be held particularly responsible." Debra DeLee, a spokesperson for the National Education Association (the largest teacher organization in the United States), noted, "Establishing a new category [ADD] based on behavioral characteristics alone, such as over-activity, impulsiveness, and inattentiveness, increases the likelihood of inappropriate labeling for racial, ethnic, and linguistic minority students." This is particularly the case for dyslexic individuals, whose brains are wired differently for processing language and who need a very specific instructional approach based on scientific research.

The resources listed here include works related to ADHD, ADD, and LD to provide responsible information for parents regarding what is being said in the media and in the schools; along with this warning: Only a small percentage of dyslexics have ADHD or ADD. A comprehensive, responsible evaluation should lead to a primary choice of treatment, that is, a multisensory, systematic, structured language approach. Adjunctive therapies (e.g., counseling, medication, family help) should be secondary considerations.

The proliferation of ADHD and ADD literature, along with the increased use of drugs as the answer, is dangerous and can lead to inappropriate treatment. According to John S. Werry, M.D., "If ever any country badly needed a sobering does of science about ADHD to temper overenthusiastic diagnosis and treatment, it is the United States."

Teacher and Parent References

Armstrong, T. (1995). The myth of the A.D.D. child. New York: Dutton.

Barkley, R.A. (1995). Taking charge of ADHD: The complete, authoritative guide for parents. New York: The Guilford Press.

Betancourt, J. (1993). My name is Brain Brian. New York: Scholastic.

Cicci, R. (1995). What's wrong with me?: Learning disabilities at home and in school. Timonium, MD: York Press. (Available from PRO-ED, 800-897-3202)

Clark, D.B., & Uhry, J.K. (1995). Dyslexia: Theory and practice of remedial instruction (2nd ed.). Timonium, MD: York Press. (Available from PRO-ED, 800-897-3202)

Corcoran, J. (1994). The teacher who couldn't read. Colorado Springs: Focus on the Family Publishing.

Diller, L.H. (1998). Running on Ritalin. New York: Bantam Books.

Frank, R. (2002). The secret life of the dyslexic child. Emaus, PA: Rodale Press.

Griffith, J. (1998). How dyslexic Benny became a star. Dallas, TX: Yorktown Press.

Hall, S.L., & Moats, L.C. (1999). Straight talk about reading: How parents can make a difference during the early years. Chicago: Contemporary Books.

Hall, S.L, & Moats, L.C. (2002). Parenting a struggling reader: A guide to diagnosing and finding help for your child's reading difficulties. New York: Random House.

Hallowell, D.M., & Ratey, J.J. (1994). Answers to distraction. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell.

Hallowell, D.M., & Ratey, J.J. (1994). Driven to distraction. New York: Pantheon Books.

Hampshire, S. (1982). Susan's story. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Honig, B. (1996). Teaching our children to read: The role of skills in a comprehensive reading program. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Hurford, D.M. (1998). To read or not to read: Answers to all your questions about dyslexia. New York: Scribner.

Huston, A.M. (1992). Understanding dyslexia: A practical approach for parents and teachers. Lanham, MD: Madison Books.

Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities. (1987). Learning disabilities: A report to the U.S. Congress. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Janover, C. (1988). Josh: A boy with dyslexia. Burlington, VT: Waterfront Books.

Kurnoff, S. (2001). The human side of dyslexia: 142 interviews with real people telling real stories about their coping strategies with dyslexia—kindergarten to college. London: Universal.

Landau, E. (1991). Dyslexia. New York: Franklin Watts.

Lauren, J. (1997). Succeeding with LD: 20 true stories about real people with LD. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit.

Lerner, J. (1989). Educational interventions in learning disabilities. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 28, 326–331.

Levine, M. (1990). Keeping ahead in school [Audiotapes and book]. Cambridge, MA: Educators Publishing Service.

Levine, M. (1993). All kinds of minds. Cambridge, MA: Educators Publishing Service.

Levinson, B. (1987). Fathers: Critical determinants of a child's success. Chevy Chase, MD: National Institute of Dyslexia.

Lyon, G.R., Shaywitz, S.E., & Shaywitz, B.A. (2003). A definition of dyslexia. Annals of Dyslexia, 53, 1–14.
Marek, M. (1985). Different, not dumb. New York: Franklin Watts.

McCardle, P., & Chhabra, V. (Eds.). (2004). The voice of evidence in reading research. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

National Association for the Education of African American Children with Learning Disabilities. (2003). One child at a time: A parent handbook and resource directory for African American families with children who learn differently. Columbus, OH: Author. (Available from the author, http://www.aacld.org)

National Center for Learning Disabilities. (1997–1998). Their world. New York: Author.

National Council on Learning Disabilities. (1991). Understanding learning disabilities: A parent guide and workbook. New York: Author.

Osman, B.B. (1995). No one to play with: Social problems of LD and ADD children. Novato, CA: Academic Therapy Publications.

Osman, B.B. (1998). LD and ADHD: A family guide. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Parents Educational Resource Center. (1995). Bridges to reading. San Mateo, CA: Author.

Rawson, M.B. (1988). The many faces of dyslexia. Monographs of the Orton Dyslexia Society, 5.

Sedita, J. (1993). Landmark study skills guide. Prides Crossing, MA: Landmark Outreach Program. (Available from the publisher, Box 79, Prides Crossing, MA 01965)

Shaywitz, S. (1998). Current concepts: Dyslexia. The New England Journal of Medicine, 338(5), 307–312.

Shaywitz, S. (2003). Overcoming dyslexia: A new and complete science-based program for reading problems at any level. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Silver, L.B. (1998). The misunderstood child: A guide for parents of learning disabled children (3rd ed.). New York: Random House.

Simpson, E.M. (1998). Reversals: A personal account of victory over dyslexia (Reissue ed.). New York: Noonday Press.

Smith, S.L. (1987). No easy answers: The learning disabled child at home and at school. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell.

Vail, P.L. (1987). Smart kids with school problems: Things to know and ways to help. New York: E.P. Dutton.

Vail, P.L. (1991). About dyslexia: Unraveling the myth. Rosemont, NJ: Modern Learning Press.

Vail, P.L. (1994). Emotion: The on-off switch for learning. Rosemont, NJ: Modern Learning Press.

Weinstein, L. (2003). Reading David: A mother and son's journey through the labyrinth of dyslexia. New York: Perigee Books.

West, T.G. (1991). In the mind's eye. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books.

Instructional Materials

Schmidt, J.J. (1997). Making and keeping friends: Ready-to-use lessons, stories, activities for building relationships (Grades 4–8). West Nyack, NY: Center for Applied Research in Education.

Organizations

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders (CHADD)
499 Northwest 70th Avenue
Suite 308
Plantation, FL 33317
305-587-3700

Division for Learning Disabilities (DLD)
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
1110 North Glebe Road
Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201
888-CEC-SPED
E-mail: cec@cec.sped.org

Independent Educational Consultants Association
4085 Chain Bridge Road
Suite 401
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-591-4850
E-mail: iecaassoc@aol.com

Institute of Education Sciences
U.S. Department of Education
555 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20208-5500
800-USA-LEARN

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
8600 LaSalle Road
Chester Building
Suite 382
Baltimore, MD 21286
800-ABC-D123
E-mail: info@interdys.org

Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)
4156 Library Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
412-341-1515

National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)
381 Park Avenue South
Suite 1401
New York, NY 10016
888-575-7373

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
Post Office Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013
800-695-0285
E-mail: nichcy@aed.org

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
National Institutes of Health
Post Office Box 3006
Rockville, MD 20847
800-370-2943

National Library Service for the Blind and the Physically Handicapped (Talking Books)
The Library of Congress
1291 Taylor Street NW
Washington, DC 20542
800-424-8567

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20202-7100
202-245-7468

Parents Educational Resource Center (PERC)
Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation
1650 South Amphlett Boulevard
Suite 200
San Mateo, CA 94402
800-230-0988
E-mail: infodesk@schwablearning.org

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D)
20 Roszel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
800-803-7201

Technical Assistance for Parent Programs (TAPP)
Federation for Children with Special Needs
95 Berkeley Street
Suite 104
Boston, MA 02116

Professional Journal

Parent Journal: A Quarterly Publication for Parents of Children with Learning Differences
published by Parents Educational Resource Center (PERC)
Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation
1650 South Amphlett Boulevard
Suite 200
San Mateo, CA 94402
650-655-2410

Videotapes

Birsh, J.R. (Consulting Ed.), & Potts, M., & Potts, R. (Producers). (1991). Teaching the learning disabled: Study skills and learning strategies. West Tisbury, MA: Vineyard Video Productions. (Available from Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Post Office Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624; 800-638-3775; 410-337-9580)

Birsh, J.R. (Consulting Ed.), & Potts, M., & Potts, R. (Producers). (1997). LD/LA: Learning disabilities/learning abilities: Videotape IV. Children & parents & schools & strengths. West Tisbury, MA: Vineyard Video Productions. (Available from Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Post Office Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624; 800-638-3775; 410-337-9580)

Birsh, J.R. (Consulting Ed.), & Potts, M., & Potts, R. (Producers). (1997). LD/LA: Learning disabilities/learning abilities: Videotape V. ADD/ADHD/LD: Understanding the connection. West Tisbury, MA: Vineyard Video Productions. (Available from Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Post Office Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624; 800-638-3775; 410-337-9580)

Eagle Hill School & Rosen, P. (Producers). (1989). How difficult can this be? F.A.T. City. Alexandria, VA: PBS Video. (Available from the publisher, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-739-5000)

Guilford Publications (Producer) & Barkley, R.A. (Director). (1992). ADHD in the classroom: Strategies for teachers. New York: Guilford Publications.

Guilford Publications (Producer) & Barkley, R.A. (Director). (1992). ADHD—What do we know? New York: Guilford Publications.

WETA-TV (Producer) & Lavoie, R. (Director). (1994). Learning disabilities and social skills with Richard Lavoie: Last one picked...first one picked on. Alexandria, VA: PBS Video. (Available from the publisher, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-739-5000)

Audiotapes

Dr. Alan Wachtel and Dr. Betty Levinson each have created audiotapes on the role of fathers, which might be useful both for HPs and for parents. These audiotapes are available from The International Dyslexia Association (IDA), 8600 LaSalle Road, Chester Building, Suite 382, Baltimore, Maryland 21286 (800-222-3123; ).