Cross disciplinary views of the etiology of dyslexia

Abstract

In 1968 Barsh wrote a seminal article discussing various perspectives on learning disabilities. The article included a compelling argument for a multidisciplinary study of learning disabilities. A recent reprinting of Barsh's article once again raises the question of cross-disciplinary research on learning disabilities, and so the present paper reviews the literature (of the past decade or so) on hypothesized etiologies of reading disabilities/dyslexia. Hypotheses from several different disciplines are considered. Finally, Barsh's contention that individuals with dyslexia would benefit from a cross-disiplinary research approach is re-evaluated, based on the more recent literature.