title: Effect of assistive reading software on high school students with learning disabilities: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This research project was designed to test the immediate effect of using assistive reading software - Kurzweil 3000 (K-3000) for high school students with learning disabilities (LD) to improve their English reading and other school performances.
  
  
  METHODS
  29 Taiwanese high school students with LD were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) use of the K-3000 or (2) control group (using a pen and paper).
  
  
  METHODS
  Both groups were asked to complete the standardized measurements using pen and paper a pre-test. Students in experiment group used the K-3000 to do the post-test after they were familiarized with the K-3000, while the students in the control group used pen and paper for the post-test. The differences between the pre-test and post-test of two groups were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results suggested that the K-3000 had an immediate impact on students' English word recognition and pronunciation. However, the use of K-3000 did not have a significant influence on the students' general English proficiency, learning adjustment, and academic self-perception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of K-3000 had a positive effect on students' English word recognition. The reason why there was no significant change in students' other performances could be due to the length of the intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Yu Ariel
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Chien-Hsiou
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shwn-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yi-Nuo
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Shih
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012073:Remedial Teaching / Q000379:methods; D012938:Social Perception; D012984:Software; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013624:Taiwan; D058013:Test Taking Skills; D014584:User-Computer Interface