How and to what extent is dyslexia a cognitive deficit? Draw on different explanations of dyslexia to build your argument.

Developmental dyslexia refers to a condition that involves difficulties with reading and writing, learning and retrieving associations between verbal and visual information. Difficulties in dealing with phonological information (speech sounds) within short-term memory have also been identified. Any task that requires the processing of verbal information, mental arithmetic and directional difficulties are also common. Approximately 5% of a population that may have dyslexic problems that are quite severe with 10% having milder difficulties. Although dyslexia is a …

…of the body and brain can indicate what causes the condition. Dyslexia cannot be isolated as either a biological, cognitive or behavioral deficit but identified within all three. It is important therefore to examine how they interact with each other to further understand and treat the condition correctly. References: Wood, C and Richardson A 'Normal' development? The case of dyslexia, in Crooper, T and Roth I (eds), Challenging Psychological Issues Milton Keynes, The Open University