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Related Concept Videos

Learning Disabilities01:25

Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Assessing Dyslexia at Six Year of Age
15:00

Assessing Dyslexia at Six Year of Age

Published on: May 1, 2020

Extra-large letter spacing improves reading in dyslexia.

Marco Zorzi1, Chiara Barbiero, Andrea Facoetti

  • 1Department of General Psychology and Center for Cognitive Science, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy. marco.zorzi@unipd.it

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|June 6, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Extra-large letter spacing significantly improves reading speed for children with dyslexia. This simple visual adjustment helps overcome crowding, a common perceptual issue, making reading more accessible without prior training.

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Advancing Dyslexia Assessment in Children Through Computerized Testing
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Advancing Dyslexia Assessment in Children Through Computerized Testing

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Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Assessing Dyslexia at Six Year of Age
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Assessing Dyslexia at Six Year of Age

Published on: May 1, 2020

Advancing Dyslexia Assessment in Children Through Computerized Testing
09:00

Advancing Dyslexia Assessment in Children Through Computerized Testing

Published on: August 16, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Educational Psychology

Background:

  • Dyslexia presents a significant challenge in reading acquisition, with reading more being the most effective intervention.
  • Current interventions often focus on component reading skills, leaving a persistent deficit that requires increased reading practice—a difficult cycle for dyslexic children.
  • The perceptual phenomenon of crowding negatively impacts letter recognition in individuals with dyslexia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of altered letter spacing on reading performance in dyslexic children.
  • To determine if a simple visual manipulation can enhance reading accessibility without specific training.

Main Methods:

  • A large, unselected sample of Italian and French children diagnosed with dyslexia participated.
  • Text reading performance was assessed with varying degrees of letter spacing.
  • The study involved on-the-fly assessment without pre-training interventions.

Main Results:

  • Substantial improvements in text reading performance were observed with extra-large letter spacing.
  • The positive effect was consistent across a large, unselected group of dyslexic children.
  • This visual manipulation demonstrated immediate benefits in reading speed and accuracy.

Conclusions:

  • Extra-large letter spacing is a simple yet effective method to enhance reading performance in dyslexic children.
  • Alleviating crowding through increased letter spacing can help break the cycle of reading deficits.
  • This approach offers a practical, non-training-based strategy to improve reading accessibility for individuals with dyslexia.