Dyslexia was initially thought to be which of the following?

Dyslexia was initially thought to be a type of aphasia because it was observed that individuals who had difficulty reading often exhibited challenges in language processing similar to those found in aphasia. Aphasia is a condition that affects communication abilities, typically due to brain injury or stroke, leading to difficulties in speaking, understanding language, reading, or writing. Early theories linked dyslexia to these language-related difficulties, suggesting that the issues were primarily related to the brain’s language centers.

The understanding of dyslexia has since evolved. It is now recognized as a specific learning disability that involves difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. This evolution in understanding reflects broader research and insights into the cognitive and neurobiological aspects of learning disorders, particularly how they differ fundamentally from conditions like aphasia. Thus, while the initial perspective associated dyslexia with aphasia, it is now well understood as a distinct learning disability characterized by specific challenges in reading.