Evaluating the use of computers in the assessment and remediation of dyslexia
Dyslexia is a common disorder, which affects approximately 4% of the population in England, to a significant extent. Morton and Frith (1995) believe that the genetic base of dyslexia does not need to lead to an underachievement, provided that intervention can start early, before the downward spiral of events associated with failure sets in. Dyslexia is susceptible to environmental intervention (Snowling, 2000). Characteristic of dyslexia can firstly arise in early development, most commonly speech, and language; Bradley and Bryant (1985) found that nursery children who found rhyme hard to process were more likely to have dyslexia four years later. The traditional diagnosis criteria for dyslexia states there must be a significant measured discrepancy between the child’s ability and attainment (discrepancy between the reading age and the chronological age). This results in children with dyslexia not getting identified until they fail to learn to read at school, usually around the ages of seven to eight years. ... So it is essential assessment administered as soon as possible. Early diagnosis instruments attempted to produce positive index of dyslexia, one of the most successful being Aston Index, by Newton and Thomson (1976; Revised edition, 1982). ... The second is the Bangor Dyslexia Test developed by Miles (1983; Second edition, 1997). ... The other approach to diagnosing dyslexia is to utilise the skills of an educational psychologist. ... The first well-known computer based assessment to diagnose dyslexia was by Fawcett, Pickering, and Nicholson (1993) named the COMB (Combined Operations Multimedia Battery). ... In 1995, Nicholson and Fawcett produced DEST (Dyslexia Early Screening Test). This assessment was aimed at an early diagnosis of dyslexia; children aged 4:6 – 6:5. ... A longitudinal study was conducted using 100 children aged 4:6, including 40 children with a history of dyslexia in their family. They were tested on all tests to find out which sub-test in their study were good predictors of dyslexia at the age of 6 years. ... The DST (Dyslexia Screening Test) was also produced by Nicolson and Fawcett (1996). ... These new techniques of assessment were seen as good way to try and detect dyslexia. The most up to date computer based assessment at present is named CoPS (Cognitive Profiling System), it was originally developed in 1996 by Singleton, Thomas, and Leedale. ... Dr Singleton and colleagues have devised other programs that diagnose dyslexia for different ages.