Predictors of developmental dyslexia in European orthographies with varying complexity

K. Landerl*, F. Ramus, K. Moll, H. Lyytinen, P.H.T. Leppänen, K. Lohvansuu, M. O'Donovan, J. Williams, J. Bartling, J. Bruder, S. Kunze, N. Neuhoff, D. Tóth, F. Honbolygó, V. Csépe, C. Bogliotti, S. Iannuzzi, Y. Chaix, J.F. Démonet, E. LongerasS. Valdois, C. Chabernaud, F. Delteil-Pinton, C. Billard, F. George, J.C. Ziegler, I. Comte-Gervais, I. Soares-Boucaud, C.-L. Gérard, L. Blomert, A. Vaessen, P. Gerretsen, M. Ekkebus, D. Brandeis, U. Maurer, E. Schulz, S. van der Mark, B. Müller-Myhsok, G. Schulte-Körne

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: The relationship between phoneme awareness, rapid automatized naming (RAN), verbal short-term/working memory (ST/WM) and diagnostic category is investigated in control and dyslexic children, and the extent to which this depends on orthographic complexity. Methods: General cognitive, phonological and literacy skills were tested in 1,138 control and 1,114 dyslexic children speaking six different languages spanning a large range of orthographic complexity (Finnish, Hungarian, German, Dutch, French, English). Results: Phoneme deletion and RAN were strong concurrent predictors of developmental dyslexia, while verbal ST/WM and general verbal abilities played a comparatively minor role. In logistic regression models, more participants were classified correctly when orthography was more complex. The impact of phoneme deletion and RAN-digits was stronger in complex than in less complex orthographies. Conclusions: Findings are largely consistent with the literature on predictors of dyslexia and literacy skills, while uniquely demonstrating how orthographic complexity exacerbates some symptoms of dyslexia.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)686-694
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Volume54
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2013

Keywords

  • Dyslexia
  • phonology
  • orthography
  • cross-linguistic
  • OPAQUE ORTHOGRAPHIES
  • DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
  • NAMING SPEED
  • TRANSPARENT
  • ACQUISITION
  • CONSISTENCY
  • CHILDREN
  • STATES

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