Bilingualism and Dyslexia: A Focus on Late Bilingual Students With Italian as L2 and Developmental Dyslexia

In recent years, the number of diagnoses of Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs) has increased, with developmental dyslexia (DD) being the most common. Concurrently, the number of minority language, or successive, or late bilingual students exposed to Italian as their second language (L2) in Italian schools has risen. Challenges in second language acquisition can mask indicators of potential SLD or dyslexia. Identifying dyslexia among these students poses significant challenges, as low proficiency in Italian can be misinterpreted. This chapter aims to explore the interaction between bilingualism and dyslexia by reviewing relevant research and identifying emerging tools to recognize poor readers among late bilinguals with Italian as their L2. Additionally, it discusses the implications for educational practices. Despite the lack of consensus in the literature, concerns regarding the detrimental effects of bilingualism on dyslexia appear unfounded.