Motor Behavior Disorders in Children with Developmental Dyslexia: a Comprehensive Narrative Review of the Literature

Background. Difficulty with literacy acquisition is only one of the symptoms of developmental dyslexia. Dyslexic children also show poor motor coordination and postural control. Several studies have shown that dyslexic children and adults perform worse than non-dyslexic children in tasks that also involve postural control.Methods. In January 2022 the main online databases were accessed. All the articles that investigate possible concomitance between the developmental dyslexia with motor behavior disorders were considered.Results. The association between developmental dyslexia and motility disorders would deserve investigations on larger patient cohorts. The evidence of relationships between impaired motor behavior and dyslexia is inconclusive, partly because few studies have been undertaken and partly because tests and procedures differed between studies.Conclusions. If an association between motor behavior and dyslexia can be confirmed, tests of motor skills could be included as tools in screening batteries, thereby potentially improving diagnostic accuracy, optimizing the management of patients with this disease, and designing more effective physiotherapy programs. Such measures might also be used to identify prereaders at risk of developing dyslexia prior to the manifestation of any reading difficulties.