title: Is radical-by-radical reading strategy effective for Chinese pure alexia? A case study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Currently, it is unclear whether a radical-by-radical (RBR) reading strategy exists in Chinese pure alexia, compared to the letter-by-letter (LBL) reading strategy in alphabetic languages. In this study, we focus on exploring the reading features of a Chinese pure alexic patient during the process of language recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated this issue using a series of neuropsychological tests at 4 days, 11 days, and 8 months after admission of a Chinese pure alexic patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that most words could not be read aloud initially by the patient. One week later, 2 clinical features were noted: RBR reading strategy and integration impairment. Finally, there were statistically significant differences in the reaction time between the single characters and compound characters, which indicated that a radical number effect may exist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined with the results of previous studies, the current case study indicates that there is evidence suggesting that the RBR reading strategy in Chinese pure alexia is of limited benefit, a result that appears fundamentally different from the LBL reading strategy.
authors: Department of Neurology and Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.
authors: Zhongqin
authors: Z
authors: Chen
authors: Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, Hangzhou Normal University.
authors: Hanyu
authors: H
authors: Shao
authors: Department of Neurology and Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.
authors: Mingwei
authors: M
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Neurology and Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.
authors: Guoping
authors: G
authors: Peng
authors: Department of Neurology and Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Neurology and Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.
authors: Xiaoyan
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.
authors: Chunlei
authors: C
authors: Shan
authors: Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, Hangzhou Normal University.
authors: Xuchu
authors: X
authors: Weng
authors: Department of Neurology and Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.
authors: Benyan
authors: B
authors: Luo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020237:Alexia, Pure / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time; D011932:Reading