ABSTRACT
As a prelude to asking about early indicators, parents were asked if any close family members had dyslexia or similar problems. As has already been discussed in chapter 1 there is strong evidence that a predisposition to phonological difficulties and subsequent dyslexia is inherited in something like 80 per cent of cases (De Fries 1991). This is an active area of research, so these figures are best viewed as provisional and open to future revision, but the principle of high heritability does raise some important questions about its significance in identifying dyslexia. If, for example, a parent has been identified as dyslexic does this mean that the family are more likely to identify any of their children who have similar problems at an early age? In a similar vein does this information on heritability alert professionals to the increased risk of reading and spelling disorders that some children run. Finally what is
the personal significance for children with dyslexia of having an adult relative and especially a parent who is dyslexic? This last issue will be examined in more detail in chapter 11 on personal support. In response to the general question about family members with dyslexia or similar problems the following information was given.
