DyslexiaPub Date : 2025-09-24DOI: 10.1002/dys.70015
T. Horowitz-Kraus, N. Taran, J. Fotang, K. Rosch, R. Farah
{"title":"Higher Short- and Long-Term Fluent Reading Abilities Following an Executive Functions-Based Reading Intervention Are Moderated by Executive Functions Improvement in Children With Reading Difficulties","authors":"T. Horowitz-Kraus, N. Taran, J. Fotang, K. Rosch, R. Farah","doi":"10.1002/dys.70015","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dys.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Previous studies have demonstrated how an executive functions-based reading training was related to improved reading and executive function abilities as well as changes in neural circuits underlying these abilities in children with reading disabilities and in typical readers. The executive components of this programme include visual attention, initiation, shifting/inhibition, speed of processing and working memory. Whether and which executive functions moderate these reading and cognitive effects in the short and long term remain elusive. This study aimed at assessing the short-term (immediately after) and long-term (3 months post-training) outcomes of a previously described computerised executive function-based reading training. Executive functions, speed of processing and visual attention were assessed pre/post-training, and reading abilities were assessed pre-, post- and long post-training in 41 children aged 8–12 (18 typical readers, 23 children with reading disabilities). The intervention improved reading fluency and word decoding in both reading groups, and the performance gain remained significant 3 months after the intervention. Moreover, improvements in speed of processing, inhibition and initiation post-training were found to be significant moderators of long-term reading improvement. Results suggest that individuals showing greater improvement in executive functions following reading training with an imposed time constraint show the greatest improvement in long-term reading gains.</p>","PeriodicalId":47222,"journal":{"name":"Dyslexia","volume":"31 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/dys.70015","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145138912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DyslexiaPub Date : 2025-09-22DOI: 10.1002/dys.70014
Bjarte Furnes, Åsa Elwér
{"title":"Is There a Dissociation Between Deficit Subtypes in Word Reading and/or Spelling? A Longitudinal Study From Grade 1 to Grade 4 Across Orthographies","authors":"Bjarte Furnes, Åsa Elwér","doi":"10.1002/dys.70014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.70014","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We investigated the stability of word reading and/or spelling deficits in children from Sweden (<i>N</i> = 170) and the U.S. (<i>N</i> = 452) from the end of Grade 1 to Grade 2 and from Grade 2 to Grade 4. Children were assessed for reading fluency and spelling accuracy and classified into subtypes with isolated reading deficits (RD), isolated spelling deficits (SD) or combined deficits (RSD). Stability was assessed using cross-tabulations and chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. The RSD subtype showed moderate to high stability across grades, whilst RD and especially SD were significantly less stable. These patterns held across orthographies. Although single-timepoint identification of isolated deficits may justify monitoring and support, our findings suggest limited predictive value for long-term persistence. This challenges prior assumptions about the stability of dissociative profiles and underscores that most children with literacy difficulties experience challenges in both the accuracy and efficiency of accessing phonological and orthographic representations. The results have implications for theoretical models of literacy development and for designing interventions targeting early reading and spelling difficulties.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47222,"journal":{"name":"Dyslexia","volume":"31 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145111162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DyslexiaPub Date : 2025-09-15DOI: 10.1002/dys.70012
Mirela Duranovic, Bojana Vukovic
{"title":"Temporal Characteristics of Handwriting in Children With Dyslexia in Transparent Orthography","authors":"Mirela Duranovic, Bojana Vukovic","doi":"10.1002/dys.70012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.70012","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Research on dyslexia in children has largely focused on languages with deep orthography, limiting its applicability to transparent orthographies like Bosnian. This study examined handwriting characteristics in children with dyslexia, comparing them to a control group of typically developing children (CA) and a spelling level-matched group (SL). A range of tasks was used, varying from basic motor and graphomotor skills (e.g., writing names) to higher-level cognitive tasks (e.g., writing the alphabet). Dictation of isolated words was included to analyse the relationship between temporal handwriting features and spelling accuracy. Writing durations for real words, nonwords, and pseudowords were compared to identify cognitive strategies used by children with dyslexia. Results showed that children with dyslexia had significantly longer writing durations, slower pen speeds, more frequent and longer pauses, and fewer correctly written letters than both CA and SL groups. In the dictation task, they performed worse than the CA group across all word types. During text writing, they paused more often, especially between words. These findings offer important insights into the handwriting challenges faced by children with dyslexia in transparent orthographic systems and highlight the need for tailored support.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47222,"journal":{"name":"Dyslexia","volume":"31 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145062699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DyslexiaPub Date : 2025-09-15DOI: 10.1002/dys.70011
Kendra V. Saunders, Shujia Sun, Sana Tibi, Kara M. Dawson, Linda Lombardino
{"title":"Staples of Screening for Dyslexia in University Students","authors":"Kendra V. Saunders, Shujia Sun, Sana Tibi, Kara M. Dawson, Linda Lombardino","doi":"10.1002/dys.70011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Dyslexia remains a struggle even among university students. This study aimed to better describe the profiles of college students with dyslexia using a multi-step screening process. The process included a phone screening interview, a developmental and family history questionnaire, and norm-referenced tests to identify students with phonological processing and word-level reading fluency deficits consistent with extant data on college students and adults with dyslexia. Eighty-two university students responded to our questionnaire, and 71 completed a battery of standardised tests including word-level reading and decoding, phonological processing measures, and cognitive tasks. Over 81% of the participants demonstrated deficits in word-level reading fluency, and 98% showed deficits in rapid automatized naming (RAN). Conversely, phonological awareness and phonological memory deficits were less commonly observed. The overwhelming majority of students reported a history of learning difficulties with reading, spelling, writing, or math. Additionally, the majority had a positive family history of language learning difficulties. This process of identifying college students with dyslexia and the profiles of their strengths and weaknesses supports a multifaceted approach to diagnosing dyslexia. These insights should provide guidelines for clinicians and educators seeking to identify and support college students with dyslexia.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47222,"journal":{"name":"Dyslexia","volume":"31 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145062700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DyslexiaPub Date : 2025-09-15DOI: 10.1002/dys.70013
Michele Maiella, Martina Benedetti, Pierfrancesco Alaimo Di Loro, Antonello Maruotti
{"title":"A Statistical Learning-Based Clustering Model With Features Selection to Identify Dyslexia in School-Aged Children","authors":"Michele Maiella, Martina Benedetti, Pierfrancesco Alaimo Di Loro, Antonello Maruotti","doi":"10.1002/dys.70013","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dys.70013","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The multi-deficit framework employed to identify dyslexia requires statistical learning-based models to account for the complex interplay of cognitive skills. Traditional methods often rely on simplistic statistical techniques, which may fail to capture the heterogeneity inherent in dyslexia. This study introduces a model-based clustering framework, employing finite mixtures of contaminated Gaussian distributions, to better understand and classify dyslexia. Using data from a cohort of 122 children in Poland, including 51 diagnosed with dyslexia, we explore the effectiveness of this method in distinguishing between dyslexic and control groups. Our approach integrates variable selection techniques to identify clinically relevant cognitive skills while addressing issues of outliers and redundant variables. Results demonstrate the superiority of multivariate finite mixture models, achieving high accuracy in clustering and revealing the importance of specific variables such as Reading, Phonology, and Rapid Automatized Naming. This study emphasises the value of the multiple-deficit model and robust statistical techniques in advancing the diagnosis and understanding of dyslexia.</p>","PeriodicalId":47222,"journal":{"name":"Dyslexia","volume":"31 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12436676/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145070801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DyslexiaPub Date : 2025-08-25DOI: 10.1002/dys.70010
Belinda Y. Zhang, Gabriela V. Gocheva, Ana Tyler, Amie Wallman-Jones, Marni Shabash, Jiwoo Han, Christa Watson-Pereira, Zachary A. Miller, Maria Luisa Gorno-Tempini, Virginia E. Sturm, Eleanor R. Palser
{"title":"A Sunny Disposition and a Big Heart: Thematic Analysis of Parent-Reported Socio-Emotional Strengths in Dyslexia","authors":"Belinda Y. Zhang, Gabriela V. Gocheva, Ana Tyler, Amie Wallman-Jones, Marni Shabash, Jiwoo Han, Christa Watson-Pereira, Zachary A. Miller, Maria Luisa Gorno-Tempini, Virginia E. Sturm, Eleanor R. Palser","doi":"10.1002/dys.70010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.70010","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Children with dyslexia have persistent and well-characterised reading difficulties but may also have less well-known socio-emotional abilities. Socio-emotional abilities in dyslexia could be leveraged in remediation efforts to improve outcomes, including resilience. Our aim was to characterise these socio-emotional abilities from parents' perspectives, to inform strength-based curricula. We analysed 97 parent responses to an open-ended question on the behavioural and emotional strengths of their child with dyslexia using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. We identified five themes, including: (1) social skills, (2) positivity, (3) reliability, (4) determination and (5) creativity. Subthemes indicated children with dyslexia had particular strengths in prosocial behaviour, empathy, optimism, conscientiousness and originality. The frequency of reported strengths was variable, with rarer descriptions of creativity alongside widespread social skills. Our findings suggest that dyslexia may be associated with previously overlooked socio-emotional strengths which could be harnessed in remediation efforts to improve outcomes by reducing stigma and fostering resilience and self-esteem.</p>","PeriodicalId":47222,"journal":{"name":"Dyslexia","volume":"31 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/dys.70010","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144897308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DyslexiaPub Date : 2025-07-13DOI: 10.1002/dys.70009
Hung-Ju Tsai, Li-Chih Wang
{"title":"How Does Theory of Mind (ToM) Affect Chinese Reading of Children With Dyslexia? The Moderation Effect of Picture Book Reading","authors":"Hung-Ju Tsai, Li-Chih Wang","doi":"10.1002/dys.70009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.70009","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study investigated Theory of Mind (ToM) in Chinese children with and without dyslexia and examined the moderating effect of early picture book reading experience on the relationship between ToM and reading comprehension. Grounded in the Landscape Model of Reading, we compared ToM between groups and explored how early literacy experiences influence reading comprehension. In total, 86 Chinese children, including 44 with dyslexia and 42 typically developing, were recruited for this study. Results revealed that typically developing children outperformed those with dyslexia in ToM tasks (<i>η</i><sup><i>2</i></sup><sub><i>p</i></sub> = 0.86). Early picture book reading experience significantly moderated the relationship between ToM and reading comprehension for children with dyslexia (<i>β</i> = 0.03, <i>p</i> < 0.05), but not for typically developing children. Notably, the moderating effect of picture book reading was significant only for children with dyslexia who had richer early literacy experiences. On the contrary, this moderation effect was not observed in typically developing children. The study contributes to our understanding of the universal and language-specific factors influencing reading development and suggests targeted interventions for children with dyslexia in Chinese-speaking populations.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47222,"journal":{"name":"Dyslexia","volume":"31 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144615412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DyslexiaPub Date : 2025-05-08DOI: 10.1002/dys.70008
Zonglin Dai, Yan Zhang, Chunlin Yao
{"title":"Training Emotional Intelligence to Promote the English Reading Performance of Learners With Dyslexia Risk in China","authors":"Zonglin Dai, Yan Zhang, Chunlin Yao","doi":"10.1002/dys.70008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.70008","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study examined the effects of an emotional intelligence training programme on improving the English reading performance of university students with dyslexia risk in China. It is an experimental study with mixed-research methods. A total of 61 students with dyslexia risk were selected as an experimental group and a control group. The two groups were taught by the same English teacher using the same method. In addition, learners in the experimental group received emotional intelligence training. After 21 weeks, the research team investigated learners' English reading performance and emotional intelligence. The analysis results revealed that the mean scores for emotional intelligence (67.00 vs. 63.77, <i>p</i> = 0.004 < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.764, medium effect) and English reading performance (86.97 vs. 84.55, <i>p</i> = 0.002 < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.832, large effect) in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The study uncovered that an English training programme embedded with an emotional intelligence training program promotes the English reading performance of learners with dyslexia risk significantly higher than a pure English training programme, and training EI is a potential way to improve the English reading performance of learners with dyslexia risk.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47222,"journal":{"name":"Dyslexia","volume":"31 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143926142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DyslexiaPub Date : 2025-05-06DOI: 10.1002/dys.70007
YiZhen Li, XiaoJun Zhao
{"title":"The Face Processing Deficit in Developmental Dyslexia: A Meta-Analysis","authors":"YiZhen Li, XiaoJun Zhao","doi":"10.1002/dys.70007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.70007","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Many studies have investigated face processing abilities in developmental dyslexia (DD) while conflicting evidence of both impaired and intact face processing has been reported. A systematic meta-analysis was conducted on the topic of the face processing abilities of DD. A total of 15 studies (34 effect sizes) were identified, representing data from 311 individuals with DD and 336 typically developing controls. A random-effects robust variance estimation model was used to synthesise the data. The average weighted standardised mean difference (Hedges' <i>g</i>) was 0.51 (95% confidence interval [0.24, 0.79], <i>p</i> = 0.001). A moderate level of heterogeneity was found while no publication bias was found between study-level effect sizes. Explorative meta-regression analyses showed that age, gender, and task type were not significant moderating factors. The results indicate that individuals with DD have face processing deficits compared with controls, suggesting domain-general deficits in DD and part of shared cognitive mechanisms underlying face and word processing.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47222,"journal":{"name":"Dyslexia","volume":"31 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143914030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DyslexiaPub Date : 2025-04-25DOI: 10.1002/dys.70006
Martin McPhillips, Helen McNally, Bronagh Taylor, Michail Doumas
{"title":"Pervasive Motor and Balance Difficulties in University Students With Dyslexia","authors":"Martin McPhillips, Helen McNally, Bronagh Taylor, Michail Doumas","doi":"10.1002/dys.70006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.70006","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Previous research suggests that dyslexic university students are unlikely to experience significant co-occurring motor or balance difficulties and may represent instances of ‘pure’ dyslexia. However, the motor and balance measures used in previous studies have been limited in scope. The primary aim of the present study was to capture a wider profile of the motor and balance difficulties experienced by dyslexic students. A group of 24 university students with dyslexia were matched on age and IQ to a group of 28 students without dyslexia. Both groups completed standardised tests of reading efficiency, IQ, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, as well as standardised motor and balance tests and a clinical procedure for primary reflex persistence. The dyslexia group had significant reading efficiency and inattention problems, as well as significantly more difficulties on specific tests of balance and primary reflex persistence. Regression analyses revealed that inattention, balance, and primary reflex persistence were unique predictors of reading efficiency. An individual profile analysis also revealed that 75% of the dyslexic students experienced at least one type of significant motor/balance difficulty (lowest 5 percentiles) relative to their peers. The findings suggest that levels of motor/balance problems in university students with dyslexia have been underestimated in previous research.</p>","PeriodicalId":47222,"journal":{"name":"Dyslexia","volume":"31 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/dys.70006","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143871520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}