Abstract
This study of reading difficulties is ordered in the manner of a series of models, derived from a consideration of the reading process. They lead to model of abilition and conditions that, when absent or not optimum, will inhibit reading. Examples are lack of motivation, perceptual handicaps or emotional problems. However, the models do not predict the cause of specific development dyslexia - and hence this is this is examined in detail. It is conceived of a syndrome in which the major symptoms is difficulty in reading, and this is accompanied by minor symptoms such as speech retardation or defect, motor disorders, perceptual disorders, abnormal lateral preferences, spatial and temporal disorientation. Other factors unusually frequent in the background of specific developmental dyslexics are - adoption, multiple birth, a history of difficult pregnancy or difficult birth, a history of difficult pregnancy or difficult birth or severe illness in early childhood. An hereditary factor is involved in some cases. The cause of specific developmental dyslexia has been ascribed to many malfunctions. Some are inadequate in explaining the facts known about the dundrome - for example, direct emotional causation. The minimal brain damage and the maturational leg hypotheses are retained. It is possible that the two causes are interrelated, in that brain damage causes an inhibition of maturation. A genetic factor could be envisaged to set in either case, in the former being represented as a malformation. (e.g. vascular). It is considered of great importance to institute a screening programme at age five to predict potential reading failure cases and thus give them help from the start of reading. A format for such a programme is suggested. Given maximum opportunity, severe reading problems can be overcome. Given less than this, delinquency often is a result.