Internalizing, externalizing and attention problems in dyslexia

The aim of this study was to investigate if children with dyslexia displayed more behavioural/emotional problems than normal readers did. Twenty-six children with dyslexia and a control of 26 children without reading problems participated in the study. The mean age in the dyslexia group was 9 years and 8 months and in the control group 9 years and 10 months. The estimated mean intelligence quotient score was 94 in the dyslexia and 100 in the control group. Parents and teachers provided information on behaviour through Child Behavior Checklist and Teacher's Report Form. Only teachers reported significant group differences. Ratings from both groups showed, however, higher mean values of internalizing, externalizing and total problem behaviour in the dyslexia group compared to controls. Parents informed on a higher number of participants with dyslexia to have internalizing behaviour above the clinical cut-off point, while teachers reported a higher number with externalizing behaviour. Both parents and teachers reported significantly more attention problems in the dyslexia than in the control group.