ABSTRACT

Although the link between developmental dyslexia and visual-spatial deficit has been recurrently highlighted, the relationship between visual-spatial abilities and reading performance is still a controversial issue, considering the orthographic variability of the language being learned. This study aimed to examine whether visuo-spatial abilities (i.e. attention, short-term memory, and relations) contribute significantly to predicting word and pseudo-word reading independently of phonological awareness in Arabic speaking children in grades 4 and 5. An inter-groups comparison between two groups of readers comprising typical readers (n = 44) and children with dyslexia (n = 32). All participants were tested in phonological (phonological awareness) and visuo-spatial measures (visual short-term memory test, visuo-spatial attention, and visuo-spatial relations). Results showed that typical readers outperformed the group of dyslexics in all the phonological and visuo-spatial measures. Visuo-spatial abilities were also a contributing factor in predicting word reading after controlling for phonological awareness, age, and non-verbal reasoning. Findings indicate that vowelised word reading in Arabic is heavily underpinned by phonological awareness and visuo-spatial abilities, found to be impaired in a group with dyslexia. Findings are viewed in the frame that reveals the integrated roles of phonological awareness and visual and spatial abilities in reading development.

摘要

尽管发展性阅读障碍和视觉空间缺陷之间的联系不断被强调，但考虑到所学语言的拼写变异性，视觉空间能力和阅读表现之间的关系仍然是一个有争议的问题。本研究旨在检验 4 年级和 5 年级讲阿拉伯语的儿童的视觉空间能力（即注意力、短期记忆和关系）是否对独立于语音意识的单词和伪单词阅读预测有显着贡献。两组读者之间的比较，包括典型读者（n = 44）和患有阅读障碍的儿童（n = 32）。所有参与者都接受了语音（语音意识）和视觉空间测量（视觉短期记忆测试、视觉空间注意力、和视觉空间关系）。结果显示，典型读者在所有语音和视觉空间测量中都优于阅读障碍者。在控制语音意识、年龄和非语言推理后，视觉空间能力也是预测单词阅读的一个影响因素。研究结果表明，阿拉伯语中的元音单词阅读很大程度上取决于语音意识和视觉空间能力，而这些能力在患有阅读障碍的群体中受到损害。研究结果揭示了语音意识以及视觉和空间能力在阅读发展中的综合作用。在控制语音意识、年龄和非语言推理后，视觉空间能力也是预测单词阅读的一个影响因素。研究结果表明，阿拉伯语中的元音单词阅读很大程度上取决于语音意识和视觉空间能力，而这些能力在患有阅读障碍的群体中受到损害。研究结果揭示了语音意识以及视觉和空间能力在阅读发展中的综合作用。在控制语音意识、年龄和非语言推理后，视觉空间能力也是预测单词阅读的一个影响因素。研究结果表明，阿拉伯语中的元音单词阅读很大程度上取决于语音意识和视觉空间能力，而这些能力在患有阅读障碍的群体中受到损害。研究结果揭示了语音意识以及视觉和空间能力在阅读发展中的综合作用。