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Studies have shown that the rate of identified dyslexics in Italy is about half the rate found in England, and a new study in the journal Science suggests the difference may be in the language of the two countries.

The researchers conducted brain scan studies of dyslexics among university students in England, France and Italy and found that the neurological markers for dyslexia were about the same.

"Although Italian dyslexics read more accurately than French or English dyslexics, they showed the same degree of impairment" on imaging studies designed to ferret out reading impairment, the study found.

The difference, the authors found, was in the language that the students learned as children.

Dyslexia is a disorder that makes it difficult for a learning reader to connect verbal sounds with the letters or symbols that "spell" that sound. Such connections are essential to learn to read.

For that reason, the researchers said, learning to read is much more difficult for English-speaking children than for Italian speakers.

English has 40 sounds, but there are more than 1,100 different ways to spell those sounds. For instance, the words "mint" and "pint" differ by only one letter, but the pronunciation in English is completely different.

In Italian, there are 25 sounds and they are all represented by just 33 letters or spellings. Thus, when Italian dyslexics learn to read, they struggle with fewer variables.

"This research proves the existence of a universal neurological basis for dyslexia," said Dr. Uta Frith of the University College, London, a co-author of the study.

It also shows, she said, that mild cases of dyslexia may appear far worse in English or French, while such cases among Italians may not even be detectable.

With thanks to the consistently informative The Nando Times - from an Associated Press story by Paul Recer.