Language and phonological skills in children at high risk of reading difficulties.
BACKGROUND
Dyslexia is now generally acknowledged to involve difficulties in phonological processing. However, the links between reading difficulties and speech difficulties remain unclear.


METHODS
In the present study, 17 children with speech difficulties between the ages of four and six were compared to children with a family history of dyslexia and normally developing controls on phonological processing, phonological learning, phonological awareness and literacy tasks.


RESULTS
The two groups of children at risk of reading difficulties showed very similar patterns of impairment, with average vocabulary but poor input and output speech processing, phonological learning, phonological awareness and reading development.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that the antecedents of reading difficulty are similar in these two groups of children, with both groups showing deficits in the development of phonological representations.
Carroll
Julia M
JM
Department of Psychology, University of York, UK. j.carroll@psych.york.ac.uk
Snowling
Margaret J
MJ
D001184:Articulation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D010700:Phonetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013067:Speech Perception; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014706:Verbal Learning