Vol 28 No 1 (2009): .
Language
Phonological Awareness in Specific Learning Disability: A Journey into Search for Genetic Inheritance
Keywords
- phonological awareness,
- Learning disability,
- genetic inheritance
How to Cite
Deepa M.S., & Prema K.S. (1). Phonological Awareness in Specific Learning Disability: A Journey into Search for Genetic Inheritance. Journal of All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, 28(1), 65-74. Retrieved from http://203.129.241.91/jaiish/index.php/aiish/article/view/379
Abstract
Specific learning disability (SLD) is a condition debated for long particularly for the causation. The genetic nature of specific learning disability in particular, has been widely discussed. The recent literature increasingly highlights the associated phonological skill deficits as the underlying core cause for the genetic inheritance with SLD. The present study aimed at comparing the phonological skills of families of children with SLD with that of children and adults without SLD. Three families of children with first cousins, the siblings and only one child in family who were diagnosed as having SLD were selected for the study along with the normal sibling and both the parents. All were tested on phonological tasks. Results were compared with normal children and normal adults. The results indicate that both the qualitative and quantitative performance of children with learning disability matched with that of their fathers suggesting a possibility of tracing genetic inheritance with behavioral measures such as phonological awareness skills. The study opens-up a possibility of devising low cost and non-invasive protocol to explore genetics as a causative factor by clinician that would facilitate better counseling and prognosis. An investigation of performance of children with SLD and their family on phonological tasks revealed a possibility of underlying phonological skill deficits as the cause for SLD, than the inheritance of specific learning disability per se.
References
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Hemmia, J. N., Myllyluomaa, B., Haltiad, T., Taipaleb, M., Vesa, O., Timo, A., Voutilainena A. & Juha K. (2002). A dominant gene for developmental dyslexia on chromosome 3. Journal of MedicalGenetics ; 3, 658-664.
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LaBuda, M.C., DeFries, J.C. & Fulker, D.W. (1986). Evidence for a genetic aetiology in reading disability of twins. Nature. 329, 537-539.
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Olson, Q.K., Gillis, J.J., Pack, J.P., Defries, J.C. & Fulker, D. W. (1989). Confirmatory factor analysis of word recognition and process measures in the Colorado reading project. Journal of Reading and Writing. Vol. 3, No. 3-4, pg: 235-248.
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Prema, K.S. (1998) Reading acquisition profile in Kannada. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis. University of Mysore, Mysore.
Prema, K. S & Jayaram, M. (2002). Investigation of reading skills in children with reading disabilities. Project at All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) Research fund.
Rollanda, E. O., Jenkins, J. R., Leicester, N & Slocum, T. A. (1993). Teaching phonological awareness to young children with Learning disabilities. Exceptional child. Vol. 59, 145-154.
Schneider, W. & Roth, E (2000). Trainign phonological and letter knowledge in children at risk for dyslexia: A comparison of 3 kindergarten intervention programs. Journal of Educational Psychology. Vol. 92, 2. 284-295.
Silver, L. M. (1971). Ethylnitrosourea Mutagenesis and the isolation of mutant alleles for specific gene location in the t-region of mouse. Genetics. . Vol. 1, 2, 33-42
Silver, L. B., Stewart, M. A. & Pulaski, L.(1981). Minimal brain dysfunction: differences in cognitive organization of two groups of index cases and their relatives. Journal of Leraning Disability. Vol.14, 8, 470-473.
Smith, R. H. (1983). Evidence for linkage and association with reading disability on 6p21.3.22. The American Journal of Human genetics. Vol 70, 5. 1287-1298.
Smith, S.L., Pennington, B.E. & Defries, J.C. (1992). Cited in Rice, M.L. Towards genetics of Language. 30-42. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum associates.
Snowling, M. & Thomson, M (1991). Dyslexia integrating theory and practice. Genetics and dyslexia -an overview. 3-19. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Snowling N & Stackhouse, J. (1991). Dyslexia-speech and language – a practitioner’s handbook, 4-9. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific
Stevenson, J., Graham, P., Fredman, G. & McLaughlin, V. (1987). Which aspects of processing text mediate genetic effects? Journal of reading and Writing. Vol. 3,No. 3-4, pg: 249-269.
Tallal, P. (1980). Language and reading: someperceptual pre-requites. Annals of dyslexia. Vol.30, 1, 170-178.
Velluntino, F. R. (1977). EJ167144 - Alternative conceptualization of dyslexia: Evidence in support of a verbal- deficit hypothesis. Harvard Educational Review, vol 47, 3, 334-354.
Wolf, J. & Melngalis, R. (1994). Selecting probands from mainstream and special schools. Cited in Raskin, Hsu, Thomson, E. J. & Ellen, M. (2000). Familial aggregation of dyslexia phenotypes. Journal of Behavioral genetics. Vol 30, 5, 341-357.
Zerbin-Rubin, E. (1967). An experimental investigation of SLD (Congenital word blindness): Reading
and Genetics: an introduction. Journal of Research in Reading. Vol 29, 1, 1-10.
Bakwin, K. (1973). The role of language as a bridge between Learning disability and psychiatric disorder. Language, Learning and behavior disorders. Cambridge University press. Cambridge.
Bradley, L. & Bryant, P. E. (1983). The Blackwell Reader in Developmental Psychology. Nature. 301, 419- 421.
Castles, A., Datta, H., Gayan, J. & Olson, R.K. (1999). Varieties of developmental disorders: genetic and environemental influences. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. 72, 73-94. Retrieved online at http://www.idealibraray.com.on
Doyle, F. J. (1996). Dyslexia: an introductory guide. Language Learning Publisher. London.
Fisher, J. (1905). Cited in Hertzig, M. E., Farber, E. A. & Payne, P.(1995). Annual progress in child psychiatry and child development. Psychology Press. Taylor and Francis group.
Garrette H.E. & Woodworth B.S. (1967). Statistics in Psychology and Education. 5th Ed, 191-193. Bombay, Vakils, Feffer and Simons Ltd.
Gilger, M. A.(1996). Selecting probands from mainstream and special schools. Cited in Raskin, Hsu, Thomson & Ellen (2000). Familial aggregation of dyslexia phenotypes. Journal of Behavioral genetics. Vol 30, No. 5. pg 720-734.
Grigorenko, E. L., (1997). Chromosome 6p influences on different dyslexia-related cognitive processesfurther confirmation. The American Journal of Human genetics. Vol. 66, 2, 715-723.
Hallgren, B. (1905). Cited in Mc Manus I.C. (1991). The genetics of Dyslexia. The Mac Millian Press LTD. Houndmills. London.
Hemmia, J. N., Myllyluomaa, B., Haltiad, T., Taipaleb, M., Vesa, O., Timo, A., Voutilainena A. & Juha K. (2002). A dominant gene for developmental dyslexia on chromosome 3. Journal of MedicalGenetics ; 3, 658-664.
Hinshelwood, J. (1907). Cited in Wijsman, E.M., Peterson, D. & Leutenegger, A. L. and Thomson, J. B (2000). Segregation analysis of phenotypic components of LD: nonword memory and digit span. The American journal of Human genetics. Vol. 67, Issue 3, 631-646.
Kennedy, E. J. & Fynn, M.C. (2003). Training phonological awareness skills in children with Down ’s syndrome. Research in Developmental disabilities. Vol 24,1, 44-57.
Kumar, P. and Prema, K.S. (2000). Is specific learning disability genetic? Scientific research paper presented in ISHACON-32 (Indian Speech and Hearing Association Conference.Secunderabad.India.
LaBuda, M.C., DeFries, J.C. & Fulker, D.W. (1986). Evidence for a genetic aetiology in reading disability of twins. Nature. 329, 537-539.
Laing, S. & Espeland, W. (2005). Low intensity phonological awareness training in a preschool classroom for children with communication impairements. Journal of communication disorders. Vol. 38, 1, 65-82
Liberman, I. Y. & Shankweiler, D. (1979). Phonology and reading disability: solving the reading puzzle. The Alphabetic principle and learning to read. University of Michigan Press. Michigan.
Morris, C. D. Robinson, S. W. & Goldmuntz, E. (2000). Family-based association mapping provides evidence for a gene for reading disability on chromosome 15q. Human Molecular genetics.Vol. 9, 5, 843-848.
Olson, Q.K., Gillis, J.J., Pack, J.P., Defries, J.C. & Fulker, D. W. (1989). Confirmatory factor analysis of word recognition and process measures in the Colorado reading project. Journal of Reading and Writing. Vol. 3, No. 3-4, pg: 235-248.
Omenn, G. S. & Weber, B. A. (1978). Dyslexia: Search for phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Vol. 1, 3, 333-342.
Pennington., B. E. (1991). Genetics of Learning Disability. Journal of seminars in Neurology. Vol11, 1, 28-34.
Prema, K.S. (1998) Reading acquisition profile in Kannada. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis. University of Mysore, Mysore.
Prema, K. S & Jayaram, M. (2002). Investigation of reading skills in children with reading disabilities. Project at All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) Research fund.
Rollanda, E. O., Jenkins, J. R., Leicester, N & Slocum, T. A. (1993). Teaching phonological awareness to young children with Learning disabilities. Exceptional child. Vol. 59, 145-154.
Schneider, W. & Roth, E (2000). Trainign phonological and letter knowledge in children at risk for dyslexia: A comparison of 3 kindergarten intervention programs. Journal of Educational Psychology. Vol. 92, 2. 284-295.
Silver, L. M. (1971). Ethylnitrosourea Mutagenesis and the isolation of mutant alleles for specific gene location in the t-region of mouse. Genetics. . Vol. 1, 2, 33-42
Silver, L. B., Stewart, M. A. & Pulaski, L.(1981). Minimal brain dysfunction: differences in cognitive organization of two groups of index cases and their relatives. Journal of Leraning Disability. Vol.14, 8, 470-473.
Smith, R. H. (1983). Evidence for linkage and association with reading disability on 6p21.3.22. The American Journal of Human genetics. Vol 70, 5. 1287-1298.
Smith, S.L., Pennington, B.E. & Defries, J.C. (1992). Cited in Rice, M.L. Towards genetics of Language. 30-42. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum associates.
Snowling, M. & Thomson, M (1991). Dyslexia integrating theory and practice. Genetics and dyslexia -an overview. 3-19. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Snowling N & Stackhouse, J. (1991). Dyslexia-speech and language – a practitioner’s handbook, 4-9. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific
Stevenson, J., Graham, P., Fredman, G. & McLaughlin, V. (1987). Which aspects of processing text mediate genetic effects? Journal of reading and Writing. Vol. 3,No. 3-4, pg: 249-269.
Tallal, P. (1980). Language and reading: someperceptual pre-requites. Annals of dyslexia. Vol.30, 1, 170-178.
Velluntino, F. R. (1977). EJ167144 - Alternative conceptualization of dyslexia: Evidence in support of a verbal- deficit hypothesis. Harvard Educational Review, vol 47, 3, 334-354.
Wolf, J. & Melngalis, R. (1994). Selecting probands from mainstream and special schools. Cited in Raskin, Hsu, Thomson, E. J. & Ellen, M. (2000). Familial aggregation of dyslexia phenotypes. Journal of Behavioral genetics. Vol 30, 5, 341-357.
Zerbin-Rubin, E. (1967). An experimental investigation of SLD (Congenital word blindness): Reading
and Genetics: an introduction. Journal of Research in Reading. Vol 29, 1, 1-10.