Are families of children with reading difficulties at risk for immune disorders and nonrighthandedness?

Cortex. 1994 Jun;30(2):281-92. doi: 10.1016/s0010-9452(13)80199-2.

Abstract

This study used questionnaire data to examine immune disorders and nonrighthandedness in the families of children enrolled in a learning disabilities school and children attending regular classrooms in public schools. Groups were organized according to their performance on a standardized test of reading comprehension to avoid overlap. In total, 468 questionnaires were returned, from which we were able to derive a final sample of carefully matched subjects: 55 subjects undergoing remediation for reading problems and 55 age- and sex-matched control subjects. The results indicated that children with reading problems and their families more frequently suffered from some immune and autoimmune disorders, particularly those involving the gastrointestinal tract and the thyroid gland. In addition, symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were associated with Crohn's disease and migraine headache in the families. There was no evidence of an elevated prevalence of nonrighthandedness in the children with reading problems and their families.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / genetics*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / genetics*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Child
  • Dyslexia / genetics*
  • Dyslexia / immunology
  • Education, Special
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Immune System Diseases / genetics*
  • Immune System Diseases / immunology
  • Intestinal Diseases / genetics
  • Intestinal Diseases / immunology
  • Male
  • Phenotype
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors