The contribution of discrete-trial naming and visual recognition to rapid automatized naming deficits of dyslexic children with and without a history of language delay

Abstract

Children with Developmental Dyslexia (DD) are impaired in Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) tasks, where subjects are asked to name arrays of high frequency items as quickly as possible. However the reasons why RAN speed discriminates DD from typical readers are not yet fully understood. Our study was aimed to identify some of the cognitive mechanisms underlying RAN-reading relationship by comparing one group of 32 children with DD with an age-matched control group of typical readers on a naming and a visual recognition task both using a discrete-trial methodology, in addition to a serial RAN task, all using the same stimuli (digits and colors). Results showed a significant slowness of DD children in both serial and discrete-trial naming (DN) tasks regardless of type of stimulus, but no difference between the two groups on the discrete-trial recognition task. Significant differences between DD and control participants in the RAN task disappeared when performance in the DN task was partialled out by covariance analysis for colors, but not for digits. The same pattern held in a subgroup of DD subjects with a history of early language delay (LD). By contrast, in a subsample of DD children without LD the RAN deficit was specific for digits and disappeared after slowness in DN was partialled out. Slowness in DN was more evident for LD than for noLD DD children. Overall, our results confirm previous evidence indicating a name-retrieval deficit as a cognitive impairment underlying RAN slowness in DD children. This deficit seems to be more marked in DD children with previous LD. Moreover, additional cognitive deficits specifically associated with serial RAN tasks have to be taken into account when explaining deficient RAN speed of these latter children. We suggest that partially different cognitive dysfunctions underpin superficially similar RAN impairments in different subgroups of DD subjects.

Visual naming deficits in dyslexia: An ERP investigation of different processing domains

“…The relationship between visual naming and (poor) reading fluency is dependent on the format of the naming task, discrete-or multiple-naming (e.g., de Jong, 2011;Gasperini et al, 2014). But there is substantial evidence that, even at the discrete level, dyslexic readers' naming fluency/accuracy is impaired.…”

Does Training in Syllable Recognition Improve Reading Speed? A Computer-Based Trial With Poor Readers From Second and Third Grade

“…PloS one, 9, e89900. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089900 Gasperini, F., Brizzolara, D., Cristofani, P., Casalini, C., & Chilosi, A. M. (2014).…”

“…For example, Wagner et al (1997; see also Kibby et al, 2014) subsume RAN under the heading of phonological processing skills, which include phonological naming (RAN), phonological awareness, and phonological memory (i.e., short-term memory). Both sides of the debate suggest that RAN is associated with rate or efficiency in naming items, and thus these viewpoints are not necessarily in conflict (Gasperini et al, 2014). Where the two sides diverge is in whether they see RAN as separate from phonological awareness or not (compare the results supporting the DDH vs. those of, e.g., Torgesen et al, 1997).…”

“…PloS one, 9, e89900. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089900 Gasperini, F., Brizzolara, D., Cristofani, P., Casalini, C., & Chilosi, A. M. (2014).The contribution of discrete-trial naming and visual recognition to rapid automatized naming deficits of dyslexic children with and without a history of language delay. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 652. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00652 Geary, D. C. (1993).…”

La velocidad de denominación y su efecto en variables atencionales y errores de lectoescritura en función del diagnóstico

“…As previous research has stated, RAN/RAS naming tasks are closely related to variables involved in reading and writing processes (Arnell et al, 2009;Georgiu et al, 2009;Gasperini, Brizzolara, Cristofani, Casalini, & Chilosi, 2014) and attentional processes (Roessner et al, 2008;Stringer, Toplak, & Stanovich, 2004). This may be because naming tasks activate a series of interrelated processes which need a specified time between them.…”