Developmental dyslexia: a computer based diagnostic test

Information Technology can play a major role in the diagnosis of developmental dyslexia. This contribution shows the results of a computer based reading test aimed at identifying subjects presenting specific developmental disorders in the reading area. The test, administered to about 1000 Italian students from third to sixth grade, consisted of the timed presentation of one list of words and one list of pronounceable non-words: phonological and visual abilities were thus investigated. Main considerations arising from the analysis of the test's results are: a) the test is able to identify subjects with reading disorders in that their performance is significantly poor; b) the test can probably be considered as a tool suitable for identifying the specificity of the problems of each child (typology and seriousness of the impairment) in that the performances of subjects showing specific difficulties are qualitatively very· different (presently this point is still under investigation). In addition the resulting data shows that the performance in the reading of words and non-words is different at any school level (words are always read better than non-words) and that children at the various school levels perform differently: the level of both performances (reading of words and non-words) as well as the difference between them changes with the school level.