Dyslexia : A Hundred Years On

* What are the distinctive characteristics of dyslexia? * How much progress has been made in discovering the causes of dyslexia? * What are the latest ideas on ways in which dyslexics can be helped? It is just over a hundred years since Dr Pringle Morgan published his famous account of Percy, a boy of 14 who could 'only with difficulty spell out words of one syllable', who wrote his name as 'Precy' and 'did not notice the mistake until his attention was called to it more than once'. Yet 'the schoolmaster who taught him for some years says that he would be the smartest lad in the school if the instruction were entirely oral'. Dyslexia: A Hundred Years On is an overview of the field. It traces the historical influences and examines the contributions of various disciplines. The new edition (1998) is a complete re-write of the original book and brings accounts of research fully up to date. There are also new chapters which report on new areas of research and raise questions about the different forms which dyslexia can take in different languages. The book also looks afresh at assessment, teaching approaches, and counselling. This book is an invaluable resource for trainee and practising teachers including special needs teachers; professionals and lay persons interested in dyslexia; psychologists, doctors, health visitors and college students (particularly those in the field of psychology, education, and linguistics).

Professor Tim Miles was Professor of Psychology at the University of Wales, Bangor, from 1963 to 1987, becoming Professor Emeritus in 1987. He is currently editor of Dyslexia: An International Journal of Research and Practice.

Elaine Miles has over 20 years' experience of teaching dyslexics and of running courses for teachers. In 1996 she and Professor Miles received the Orton Dyslexia Society Award for International Leadership in the field of dyslexia.