Familial aggregation of dyslexia phenotypes. II: paired correlated measures.

Dyslexia is a common and complex behavioral disorder characterized by unexpected difficulty in learning to read. Psychometric measures used to assess dyslexia often evaluate overlapping processes or abilities. To identify subphenotypes amenable to model-based linkage analyses, we have used careful language phenotyping, familial aggregation analyses of single phenotype measures, and segregation analyses. In the current study, to identify covariates to use in future segregation analyses we examined six pairs of related measures selected from among the most promising candidates in the initial aggregation analyses whose aggregation patterns were most consistent with a genetic basis. For these reciprocal aggregation analyses each measure is evaluated with the paired measure as the covariate to obtain information about the interdependence of the paired measures on shared genetic factors. Six pairs of measures were evaluated: 1) accuracy and efficiency of phonological decoding; 2) phonological nonword memory and written spelling; 3) phonological decoding accuracy and written spelling; 4) inattention ratings and rapid automatized naming for switching letters and numerals (RAS); 5) inattention ratings and oral reading rate; and 6) RAS and oral reading rate. Results of these analyses provide evidence that there may be a genetic contribution to efficiency of phonological decoding in addition to the genetic contribution it shares with accuracy of phonological decoding, a genetic contribution to phonological nonword memory in addition to the genetic contribution it shares with written spelling, a genetic contribution to written spelling in addition to the genetic contribution it shares with accuracy of phonological decoding, and a genetic contribution to inattention ratings in addition to the genetic contribution it shares with either RAS or oral reading rate. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.