Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
15:00
Assessing Dyslexia at Six Year of Age
Published on: May 1, 2020
Predicting reading disability: early cognitive risk and protective factors.
Kenneth Mikael Eklund1, Minna Torppa, Heikki Lyytinen
1Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland. Kenneth.M.Eklund@jyu.fi
Dyslexia (Chichester, England)
|January 9, 2013
Summary
Early reading disability (RD) risk factors were identified in children. Lack of task avoidance and strong phonological skills were protective factors against RD, even with early cognitive risks.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Reading disability (RD) affects a significant portion of children.
- Early identification of risk and protective factors is crucial for intervention.
- Previous research has identified various cognitive and environmental influences on reading development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate early cognitive risk and protective factors for Grade 2 reading disability.
- To analyze reading outcomes across different developmental cognitive subgroups.
- To identify specific cognitive skills, behaviors, and environmental factors differentiating children with similar early development but different RD outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 198 children.
- Analysis of four developmental cognitive subgroups (dysfluent, declining, unexpected, typical trajectories).
- Comparison of cognitive skills, task-focused behavior, and print exposure in children with differing RD outcomes despite similar early cognitive development.
Main Results:
- Reading disability (RD) was present across all subgroups, but unevenly distributed.
- A majority of children with RD had a familial risk for dyslexia.
- Children with RD, even with low early cognitive risk, showed poorer phonological skills, more task avoidance, and less reading exposure.
- Lack of task avoidance emerged as a significant protective factor.
Conclusions:
- Early cognitive skills, particularly phonological abilities, are critical for reading development.
- Task-focused behavior and engagement in reading activities (e.g., shared reading) act as protective factors against RD.
- Interventions should focus on fostering interest and engagement in reading to mitigate RD risk.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Language 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.
01:30Information Processing Approach
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
01:25Learning 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...
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
01:29Intellectual Disability
Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
01:29Environmental Influences on Intelligence
Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...