Italian developmental dyslexic and proficient readers: where are the differences?

Full Abstract

Italian dyslexic children are characterized by a pervasive reading speed deficit, with relatively preserved accuracy. This pattern has been associated with predominant use of the nonlexical reading procedure. However, there is no evidence of a deficit in the lexical route of Italian dyslexics. We investigated both lexical and nonlexical reading procedures in dyslexic children through two marker effects, namely, the word frequency effect and the effect of contextual grapheme-to-phoneme conversion rules. Although dyslexics were slower and less accurate than controls, they were affected by word frequency, grapheme contextuality, and their interaction in a similar manner as average readers. These results show the use of lexical reading in Italian dyslexics, and refute the claim of a deficit in whole-word processing with consequent over-reliance on the nonlexical route.

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Author information

Author/s: Barca, Laura (L); Burani, Cristina (C); Di Filippo, Gloria (G); Zoccolotti, Pierluigi (P);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD York, UK. l.barca(-atsign-)psych.york.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Brain and language (Brain Lang), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Sep; vol 98 (issue 3) : pp 347-51

Dates: Created 2006/09/01; Completed 2007/02/06; Revised 2007/04/26;

PMID: 16815542, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

ErratumIn: Brain Lang. 2007 Mar;100(3):317.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Child
Dyslexia - diagnosis; physiopathology
Female
Humans
Italy

Italy
Male
Periodicity
Reading
Vocabulary

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