History of Dyslexia

Question 1

Paul Broca

Answer 1

A French surgeon and neurologist who did an autopsy on a patient that had lost the ability of speech. Broca found a lesion on the left side of the brain that is now known as Broca’s Area.

Question 2

Paul Wernicke

Answer 2

A German neurologist did an autopsy on a patient who lost the ability to understand oral language. He discovered a lesion on the back side of the left hemisphere of the brain that controls language comprehension. This area is now know as Wernicke’s area.

Question 3

W. Pringle Morgan

Answer 3

An English doctor (1896) was the first to report a case of “word blindness” in a child who was bright in all other areas, but couldn’t read. Morgan concluded that the condition was congential because the child’s father also had the same condition.

Question 4

James Hinshelwood

Answer 4

A Scottish opthalmologist, (1917) was the first to advocate a specific mode of instruction for children with written language disorders that involved as many cerebral centers as possible.

Question 5

Samuel T. Orton

Answer 5

An American psychiatrist and neuropathologist recognized that dyslexia was neurologically based but must be treated through education. He proposed the use of multisensory instruction procedures.

Question 6

June Lyday Orton

Answer 6

Married to Samuel T. Orton and furthered his work after his death. Founded The International Dyslexia Association. (Orton Society)

Question 7

Anna Gillingham

Answer 7

Worked with Samuel Orton and created the Orton-Gillingham approach to instruction for dyslexia. She then trained many teachers who would then go on to train others.