Interdisciplinary Research

As someone working in language education I welcome the fact that Deutsches Ärzteblatt presented the problem of dyslexia as a CME article. Unfortunately, medical-psychological research—and usual teaching practice—do not take into consideration the results of current literacy research (1, 2).

The consensus of the diagnostic evaluation and therapy presented in the article is based on the following premises:

• Acquisition of written language skills follows the logic of a developmental model from writing true to sound to writing that is orthographically correct.
• The basis of language education in the lessons is appropriate for all groups of learners.
• Written language (orthography) is dependent on spoken language.

Current literacy research actually questions all these three premises. A reader’s letter does not provide the scope to discuss the necessary revision of existing concepts in dyslexia. However, much would be gained from realizing that dyslexia is the subject of interdisciplinary research.

DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2011.0263b

Dr. phil. Gabriele Hinney

Marienburger Platz 22

31141 Hildesheim, Germany

ghinney@web.de