Dyslexia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Dyslexia, including details on learning, reading, education, teaching, treatment.

Length effect in word naming in reading: role of reading experience and reading deficit in italian readers.

Spinelli D, De Luca M, Di Filippo G, Mancini M, Martelli M, Zoccolotti P

Istituto Universitario di Scienze Motorie, Rome, Italy, IRCCS, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy. dspinelli@iusm.it

Vocal reaction times (RTs) in naming 3- to 8-letter words were measured in proficient and dyslexic readers (Study 1). In proficient readers, RTs were independent of word length up to 5-letter words, indicating parallel processing. In the 5- to 8-letter range, RTs increased linearly, indicating sequential processing. Reading experience was associated with both faster discrimination of individual elements and parallel processing of increasingly large word parts. In dyslexics, RTs increased linearly with increasing length indicating reliance on sequential decoding. Individual analysis indicated 2 profiles of RTs (Types A and B). In Study 2, the distinction between A and B dyslexics was not associated with the use of different reading procedures. However, a more marked speed deficit characterized Type B dyslexics.

Published 8 March 2005 in Dev Neuropsychol, 27(2): 217-35.
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