Who will develop dyslexia? Cognitive precursors in parents and children

Which children go on to develop dyslexia? This thesis presents findings of the Dutch Dyslexia Programme, a longitudinal study following the progress of children with and without a family history of dyslexia. Since there is a substantial genetic influence on reading ability, many of the children at family risk for dyslexia will develop the disorder. The presented studies characterize the cognitive profile of at-risk children that do and do not become dyslexic readers. Beyond studying these cognitive characteristics intrinsic to the child, the thesis explores a new avenue by investigating the cognitive risks that parents pass on to their child. The combination of investigating child characteristics and family characteristics sheds light on the constellation of risk factors that can ultimately lead to dyslexia.