Rhythmic Reading Training: Comparing the Rhythmic and Visual Contributions to Reading Improvement
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The main objective of the study is to evaluate the specific effect of the sub-components of the reading training program Rhythmic Reading Training (RRT) on reading speed and accuracy in a sample of Italian students with developmental dyslexia (DD). More precisely, in order to better understand the neuropsychological mechanisms involved in reading improvements following RRT, the specific contribution of the visual component of the training (presence of a visual cue) will be investigated in a study with between-groups design.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: RRT rhythm only 10 RRT rhythm only sessions of 60 minutes, twice a week under the supervision of a trainer |
Behavioral: RRT rhythm only
RRT is a child-friendly computerized reading training program designed for Italian students with DD aged 8-14 yrs. The main feature of this intervention is the integration of a traditional remediation approach (sublexical treatment) with rhythm processing. Therefore, all reading exercises are characterized by a rhythmic accompaniment with gradually increasing speed. In this condition, the RRT activities comprise only a rhythm accompaniment and no visual cue.
|
| Experimental: RRT rhythm + visual cue 10 RRT rhythm + visual cue sessions of 60 minutes, twice a week under the supervision of a trainer |
Behavioral: RRT rhythm + visual cue
RRT is a child-friendly computerized reading training program designed for Italian students with DD aged 8-14 yrs. The main feature of this intervention is the integration of a traditional remediation approach (sublexical treatment) with rhythm processing. Therefore, all reading exercises are characterized by a rhythmic accompaniment with gradually increasing speed. In this condition, the rhythmic accompaniment is synchronize with a visual cue (the verbal stimuli are highlighted using a red font in synchrony with the rhythm).
|
| No Intervention: No intervention 5 weeks no intervention period |
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Word reading speed - DDE-2 [5 weeks]
Word reading speed in syllable / second
- Word reading accuracy - DDE-2 [5 weeks]
Word reading accuracy in n. of errors
- Word reading speed - DDE-2 [3 months]
Word reading speed in syllable / second
- Word reading accuracy - DDE-2 [3 months]
Word reading accuracy in n. of errors
- Pseudo-word reading speed - DDE-2 [5 weeks]
Pseudo-word reading speed in syllable / second
- Pseudo-word reading accuracy - DDE-2 [5 weeks]
Pseudo-word reading accuracy in n. of errors
- Pseudo-word reading speed - DDE-2 [3 months]
Pseudo-word reading speed in syllable / second
- Pseudo-word reading accuracy - DDE-2 [3 months]
Pseudo-word reading accuracy in n. of errors
- Text reading speed - MT-3-Clinica Battery [5 weeks]
Text reading speed in syllable / second
- Text reading accuracy - MT-3-Clinica Battery [5 weeks]
Text reading accuracy in n. of errors
- Text reading speed - MT-3-Clinica Battery [3 months]
Text reading speed in syllable / second
- Text reading accuracy - MT-3-Clinica Battery [3 months]
Text reading accuracy in n. of errors
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Phonemic awareness task (Judica et al., in press) [5 weeks]
N. of errors in phonemic blending + n. of errors in phonemic elision
- Phonemic awareness task (Judica et al., in press) [3 months]
N. of errors in phonemic blending + n. of errors in phonemic elision
- Digit span (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV, WISC-IV) [5 weeks]
Forward and backward digit span
- Digit span (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV, WISC-IV) [3 months]
Forward and backward digit span
- Rapid Automatized naming task - RAN (De Luca et al., 2005) [5 weeks]
RAN speed in seconds
- Rapid Automatized naming task - RAN (De Luca et al., 2005) [3 months]
RAN speed in seconds
- Selective Auditory attention task - NEPSY-II [5 weeks]
N. of errors
- Selective Auditory attention task - NEPSY-II [3 months]
N. of errors
- Rhythm reproduction task [5 weeks]
n. of correctly reproduced rhythmic patterns
- Rhythm reproduction task [3 months]
n. of correctly reproduced rhythmic patterns
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- having been diagnosed with DD (ICD-10 code: F81.0) on the basis of standard inclusion and exclusion criteria (ICD-10: World Health Organization, 1992) and of the diagnosis procedure followed in the Italian practice
Exclusion Criteria:
-
presence of comorbidity with other neuropsychiatric or psychopathological conditions
-
having been involved in previous reading intervention programs in the previous 3 months
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catholic University of the Sacred Heart | Milan | Italy | 20123 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
- Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta
- ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco
- Associazione La Nostra Famiglia, Como, Italy
Investigators
None specified.Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- RRT-VISUALCUE