Digital texts can be made accessible to children with developmental dyslexia by presenting them in a simplified layout, using suitable fonts, or using text highlighting that is synchronized with audio. However, the impact of this last method on readability (as measured by eye movement) for children with developmental dyslexia remains unknown; it is unclear whether the color and length of text highlighting influences readability. We examined these issues in two experiments with seven children with developmental dyslexia (aged 7–14 years). In the first experiment, we clarified the relation between readability and text highlighting with synchronous audio by measuring the eye movements of children with developmental dyslexia. Readability was determined using the frequency of eye fixations. In the second experiment, we determined which styles of text highlighting best supported digital text reading among children with developmental dyslexia. Digital texts were created using different text highlighting colors and band lengths, and then were read using Apple iBooks on a 9.7-inch Apple iPad Air. We observed that children with developmental dyslexia found it easier to read along when audio was synchronized with text highlighting, particularly for the highlighting style that used a blue band for whole sentences. The second experiment showed that children with developmental dyslexia found it particularly easy to read digital texts that were highlighted with blue or yellow bands, both for single sentences and for single words. The method of presenting visual information for reading might help children with developmental dyslexia read more easily.
In Japan, most public libraries do not provide sufficient easy-reading materials or offer reading facilities that are suitable for children with dyslexia. In contrast, in Europe, public libraries provide special facilities for children with reading disabilities, allowing them to see, read or listen to books in various ways. This study compares support services for children with reading disabilities at public libraries in Europe and Japan, focusing on support for children with dyslexia. Information was gathered through interviews with librarians. After interviewing European librarians working in children’s libraries, we found that each of them runs events for children, where the children have the opportunity to discover books. Children were able to acquire knowledge through these events and pursue knowledge using these newly-discovered books. It is suggested that adopting the concept of the European children’s library in Japanese libraries might give all Japanese children the opportunity to read more books.
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