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Word-blindness
The concept of "word-blindness," as an isolated condition, was first developed by the German physician Adolph Kussmaul in 1877.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_dyslexia_research -
The Term "Dyslexia"
Identified by Oswald Berkhan in 1881, the term 'dyslexia' was later coined in 1887 by Rudolf Berlin in Stuttgart, Germany. Rudolf Berlin used the term dyslexia to describe partial reading loss in an adult patient. He used the term to refer to a case of a young boy who had a severe impairment in learning to read and write in spite of showing typical intellectual and physical abilities in all other respects.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_dyslexia_research -
"Congenital Word Blindness"
W. Pringle Morgan published a description of a reading-specific learning disorder in a report titled "Congenital Word Blindness". This described the case of a boy who had not yet learned to read, yet showed normal intelligence.This led Morgan to conclude the etiology of reading disability to be congenital and attributed it to defective development of the left angular gyrus of the brain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_dyslexia_research -
James Hinshelwood
James Hinshelwood finds another case that fits the bill that we can find in his first paper on ‘word-blindness’ – describing a ‘deficiency of the visual memory for words’.
https://www.succeedwithdyslexia.org/blog/a-timeline-of-dyslexia-awareness/ -
Research on Dyslexia
Research on dyslexia waned throughout the interbellum period in the UK, but over in the US it was becoming a hot topic in both medicine and education.
https://www.succeedwithdyslexia.org/blog/a-timeline-of-dyslexia-awareness/ -
Orton Society (now known as the International Dyslexia Association)
The International Dyslexia Association – then called the Orton Society – was set up in the US by Samuel Torrey Orton’s wife, June Orton, with the intention of promoting a wider understanding of dyslexia and helping people with dyslexia find support and understanding.
https://www.succeedwithdyslexia.org/blog/a-timeline-of-dyslexia-awareness/ -
Clement Launay
Research conducted under the French pediatric specialist, Clement Launay, made some links between dyslexia and the dynamics of sight, exploring the differences between reading and spelling, and highlighting why some people with dyslexia are able to mirror-read and mirror-write.
https://www.succeedwithdyslexia.org/blog/a-timeline-of-dyslexia-awareness/ -
The Word Blindness Centre
Interest in dyslexia waned for a number of years but came back in the 1960s. Neurologist Macdonald Critchley and psychologist Tim Miles opened The Word Blindness Centre in 1962. The center brought together many researchers who had worked with dyslexic individuals.
https://www.ldrfa.org/the-history-of-dyslexia/#:~:text=Dyslexia%20was%20first%20referred%20to,able%20had%20extreme%20reading%20difficulties. -
First Consensus Definition
It was at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children that the first consensus definition of dyslexia occurred, as “A disorder manifested by difficulty in learning to read despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence, and socio-cultural opportunity. It is dependent upon fundamental cognitive disabilities which are frequently of constitutional origin.”
https://www.ldrfa.org/the-history-of-dyslexia/#:~:text=Dyslexia%20was%20first%20referred%20to,able%20had%20extreme%20reading%20difficulties. -
Dyslexia Hypothesis
A hypothesis emerged that dyslexia stems from a deficit in phonological processing, or difficulty in recognizing that spoken words are formed by discrete phonemes. https://joygenea.com/the-history-of-dyslexia-in-america-with-infographic/ -
Sandhya Naidoo Research
Researcher Sandhya Naidoo published a book that was one of the first major studies of dyslexia. It was called Specific Dyslexia. Her book, along with Critchley’s, was a turning point in early dyslexia research.
https://www.ldrfa.org/the-history-of-dyslexia/#:~:text=Dyslexia%20was%20first%20referred%20to,able%20had%20extreme%20reading%20difficulties. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975
The passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (PL 94-142). This public law defined learning disability. https://joygenea.com/the-history-of-dyslexia-in-america-with-infographic/ -
Neuroimaging Technologies
The development of neuroimaging technologies during the 1980s and 1990s enabled dyslexia research to make significant advances. https://joygenea.com/the-history-of-dyslexia-in-america-with-infographic/ -
Brain Scan Results
Brain scan results indicate that dyslexia may result from distinct cognitive impairments in the phonological, auditory, and magnocellular areas.
https://joygenea.com/the-history-of-dyslexia-in-america-with-infographic/ -
American's with Disabilities Act Amendments Act
Congress passed the American’s with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) adding dyslexia as one of the things that you can’t discriminate against an employee for. https://joygenea.com/the-history-of-dyslexia-in-america-with-infographic/ -
Social Security adding learning disabilities
Social Security added learning disabilities to the Blue Book of impairments that qualify for disability benefits when they are severe. https://joygenea.com/the-history-of-dyslexia-in-america-with-infographic/