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Profiling the word reading abilities of school-age children with neurofibromatosis type 1
Arnold, Shelley Payne, Jonathan McArthur, Genevieve North, Kathryn Barton, Belinda
Arnold, Shelley
Payne, Jonathan
McArthur, Genevieve
North, Kathryn
Barton, Belinda
Abstract
Objective:
Reading difficulties are one of the most significant challenges for children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). The aims of this study were to identify and categorize the types of reading impairments experienced by children with NF1 and to establish predictors of poor reading in this population.
Method:
Children aged 7–12 years with NF1 (n = 60) were compared with typically developing children (n = 36). Poor word readers with NF1 were classified according to impairment type (i.e., phonological, surface, mixed), and their reading subskills were compared. A hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to identify predictors of word reading.
Results:
Compared to controls, children with NF1 demonstrated significantly poorer literacy abilities. Of the 49 children with NF1 classified as poor readers, 20 (41%) were classified with phonological dyslexia, 24 (49%) with mixed dyslexia, and 5 (10%) fell outside classification categories. Children with mixed dyslexia displayed the most severe reading impairments. Stronger working memory, better receptive language, and fewer inattentive behaviors predicted better word reading skills.
Conclusions:
The majority of children with NF1 experience deficits in key reading skills which are essential for them to become successful readers. Weaknesses in working memory, receptive language, and attention are associated with reading difficulties in children with NF1.
Keywords
literacy, dyslexia, NF1, reading impairments, cognition, working memory, children
Date
2021
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
Book
Volume
27
Issue
5
Page Range
484-496
Article Number
ACU Department
Faculty of Education and Arts
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled