ERIC Number: EJ929256
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Jun
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0736-9387
EISSN: N/A
Subtypes of Reading Disability in a Shallow Orthography: A Double Dissociation between Accuracy-Disabled and Rate-Disabled Readers of Hebrew
Shany, Michal; Share, David L.
Annals of Dyslexia, v61 n1 p64-84 Jun 2011
Whereas most English language sub-typing schemes for dyslexia (e.g., Castles & Coltheart, "1993") have focused on reading accuracy for words varying in regularity, such an approach may have limited utility for reading disability sub-typing beyond English in which fluency rather than accuracy is the key discriminator of developmental and individual differences in reading ability. The present study investigated the viability of an accuracy/fluency-based typology in a regular orthography, pointed Hebrew. We sought evidence of true or "hard" accuracy/rate subtypes in the strict (double dissociation) sense of selective impairment on only one dimension in the presence of "normal" levels of performance on the other dimension. In a nationally representative sample of fourth graders, we were able to identify a specific accuracy-disabled sub-group as well as an equally specific rate-disabled subgroup. Validating this subdivision, we show that the nature of reading performance in these subgroups and their converging cognitive/linguistic profiles are unique and distinctive on variables other than the measures used to define them. While the rate-specific disability appeared to reflect a general deficit in speed of processing affecting reading rate, and rapid automatized naming of print-related material, the accuracy-only disability subgroup displayed selective deficits in phonological awareness and morphological knowledge. Biosocial, demographic, and instructional factors, furthermore, did not explain the sub-group differences. It appears that both these subtypes are equally prevalent each counting close to 10% of the population.
Descriptors: Semitic Languages, Reading Difficulties, Phonological Awareness, Reading Ability, Grade 4, Reading Rate, Reading, Orthographic Symbols, Dyslexia, Individual Differences, Classification, Morphemes, Elementary School Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 4
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A