Cognitive Abilities in a Child with Developmental Dyslexia Suspected of Having a Hearing Impairment by School Personnel

—Need for Cooperation between a Developmental Dyslexia Expert and an Otorhinolaryngologist—

Abstract

This article reported a child with developmental dyslexia who had been suspected by school personnel of having a hearing impairment. We discussed the underlying cognitive mechanisms of her developmental dyslexia as well as cognitive factors behind the suspected hearing impairment, based on the results of tests and reading/writing training. She showed reading and writing deficits in spite of normal general intellectual functions and language development. Visual cognitive deficits and severe phonological deficits were thought to underlie her developmental dyslexia. She was suspected of having a hearing impairment because of phonological deficits caused by poor phonological representation, leading to otolaryngological examination. In light of the possibility that a child with developmental dyslexia may undergo otolaryngological examination due to suspected hearing impairment, it seems to be needed that an expert in developmental dyslexia cooperate with an otorhinolaryngologist for early detection of developmental dyslexia.