title: Reading impairment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A pilot study to investigate similarities and differences with developmental dyslexia.
abstract: Below-average reading performances have been reported in individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), but literacy problems in these subjects have yet to be characterized. In this study, the presence and characteristics of literacy deficits in boys with DMD were investigated through a comparison with typically developing children and with children affected by developmental dyslexia, with the aim of clarifying whether DMD and developmental dyslexia have overlapping profiles of literacy deficits and whether these deficits are associated, as in children with dyslexia, with impairments in phonological processing and rapid lexical access. The results confirmed the high incidence of literacy problems in boys with DMD and revealed a profile less severe than, but qualitatively similar to, that of Italian children with developmental dyslexia. Both groups showed specific difficulties in reading and writing words and a reduced rapid automatized naming (RAN) speed. This is the first time that a RAN speed deficit has been documented in DMD. Moreover, the boys with DMD and the subgroup of dyslexic children with a previous language delay showed additional deficits in phonological processing. The impairments highlighted in this study could explain the reading difficulties observed in boys with DMD and suggest that there is a need for targeted preschool interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: g.astrea@fsm.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Guja
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Astrea
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: c.pecini@fsm.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pecini
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: f.gasperini@fsm.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gasperini
authors.affiliation: Center of Myology and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS G. Gaslini Institute, Via Gerolamo Gaslini, 5, 16148 Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: giacomobrisca@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brisca
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Cardiomyology and Medical Genetics, Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia, 80131 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: scutifero.marianna59@libero.it.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scutifero
authors.affiliation: Center of Myology and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS G. Gaslini Institute, Via Gerolamo Gaslini, 5, 16148 Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: claudio2246@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: f.santorelli@fsm.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Filippo Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Santorelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: g.cioni@fsm.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Cardiomyology and Medical Genetics, Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia, 80131 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: luisa.politano@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Politano
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: a.chilosi@fsm.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chilosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: r.battini@fsm.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Battini
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010700:Phonetics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011932:Reading
keywords: Dystrophin; Neuromuscular disorders; Phonological processing; Rapid automatized naming; Reading decoding impairment