Wikipedia:WikiProject Dyslexia/Proposed organization

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This is a strawman organization. I think there have been suggestions beyond this version that are not yet incorporated. I'll go back through our discussion threads and try to find them. If I miss yours, feel free to edit this proposal yourself.

In summary, this reorganization plan suggests that we break out very detailed sections into separate articles, and provide a summary of the information in the main article, with a link to the detailed article. See Wikipedia:Summary style for more information about this Wikipedia information structure.

This draft reorganization plan suggests that we create the following new articles from the existing content on dyslexia:

  • Definitions of dyslexia
  • Dyslexia subtypes
  • Theories of developmental dyslexia
  • Dyslexia symptoms
  • Dyslexia treatments
  • Controversies about dyslexia


Here are the details about how each section would be handled in this reorganization:


1 Overview

Only addressed here, in the summary article.

2 History

Only addressed here, in the summary article.

3 Dyslexia definitions

Provide summary in this location, including the fact that the term is defined differently, and pointing out the major elements common to most of the different definitions. Break out the detailed comparative definitions of dyslexia into a single separate article.
New article: Definitions of dyslexia
List of all organizational definitions, with appropriate comparison and contrast.

4. Subtypes of dyslexia

Note: We may want to combine subtypes and definitions in a single article. We don't seem to have achieved consensus on this yet.
Provide summary of hypothetical subtypes. Break out details into a separate article. I think this can be done in a single break-out article.
New article: Dyslexia subtypes
Includes details of all major sybtypes as defined by various researchers and organizations.

5 Variations and related conditions

Keep this information relatively brief and summary in style. Link to main articles for those topics.
  • Dysgraphia
  • Dyscalculia
  • What else?

6 Educational and legal issues (will need to include differences that occur by country))

New article: Legal and educational issues
When we discuss specific content to appear in this article, we should keep in mind that there are existing articles we can link to on the US legal issues with respect to IDEA, RTI, special education, etc. I don't think the legal issues for other countries are covered elsewhere.
  • Identification
  • Intervention
  • Educational environment
  • Legal requirements to be implemented by schools

7 Scientific research

Summarize areas of ongoing research here:
  • Research showing how dyslexics function differently than non-dyslexics? such as differences in brain structure and processing?
  • Research on how to identify who is dyslexic and who is not.
  • Research regarding effective interventions.
  • Research searching to discover the etiology (ies) of dyslexia.
  • Research on how to reduce the effect of failure experience for students with dyslexia.
New article: Theories of developmental dyslexia
To contain the following information:
  • The phonological hypothesis
  • The rapid auditory processing theory
  • The visual theory
  • The cerebellar theory
  • The magnocellular theory
  • Perceptual visual-noise exclusion hypothesis

8 Other areas of research

Not sure what to do with this. Maybe keep this content and merge into the research summary (above) since it isn't very long.
  • Genetic factors
  • Physiology
  • Effect of language orthography
  • Effective interventions (as in, searching for interventions that work)


9 Characteristics

This section is way, way too long for the main article. Again, recommend including summary here and breaking out details into separate article.
Instead of just presenting characteristics, we might consider reframing the information to present symptoms that are possible indicators of dyslexia, as precursor to evaluation.
New article: Symptoms occurring in dyslexic individuals
This info to be summarized here and detailed in a separate article:
  • General
  • Speech, hearing and listening
  • Reading and spelling
  • Writing and motor skills
  • Mathematical abilities
  • Overlapping symptoms in related conditions

10 Treatment

Probably summarize here. We need to go into more mainstream methodologies as well as more controversial therapies.
New article: Dyslexia treatments
  • Academic interventions
  • Assistive Lenses and colored overlays
  • Auditory processing interventions (not sure if this is the correct terminology)
  • Other?


11 Controversy

Reframe section to cover all areas of controversy, including whether dyslexia really exists as a disability, or a difference; controversies about etiology; controversies about interventions, etc. Will probably need to summarize and link.
New article: Controversies about dyslexia
  • Whether dyslexia really exists or is a myth
  • Whether dyslexia is a disability (a disabling condition) or a different, but equally valid, brain wiring
  • What types of interventions are effective
  • I'm sure we can find more!

12. Socio-cultural Issues

Facts and statistics (Will be country specific, but estimated percent of dyslexics, etc)
Societal impact
Social difficulties and emotional effects (in affected individuals)


13 See also
14 External links

  • Historical
  • Research papers and articles
  • Regional associations and organizations
  • Support groups and organisations

15 References