Early case reports of dyslexia in the United States and Europe.

Current understanding of reading disabilities is rooted in the early observations of physicians dating as far back in history as the 17th century. This article reviews medical case study research from the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States that identified characteristics, etiological factors, and treatment methods of reading disorders. The physicians involved provided rich descriptions of the personal struggles of individuals who lost the ability to read because of brain insult as well as of those who failed to achieve literacy because of reading disability.