Multimodality, crossmodality, and dyslexia.
It is argued that what we call intelligent behavior is based to a great extent on our ability to analyze multimodal and crossmodal information. Acquisition and utilization of those functions seem to appear and develop greatly during the 2-4 year period in humans. Among the functions are those frequently affected in dyslexic persons. It might be possible to diagnose potential dyslexics by testing for the adequacy of those functions at that early period. In addition, limitations on the number of concepts that can be handled simultaneously may be involved in information processing in such a way as to affect both multimodality and crossmodality; this limitation seems not to be generally taken in to account by educators, especially those working with dyslexic persons.
Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.
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Epstein