Evaluation of Pre-Codia, a Evaluation of Pre-Codia, a Computerized Reading Aid for Readers Computerized Reading Aid for Readers

Suffering from DyslexiaSuffering from Dyslexia

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Mikael Goldstein Mikael Goldstein Migoli, Stockholm, SwedenMigoli, Stockholm, Sweden

mikael.goldstein@telia.commikael.goldstein@telia.com

Gustav Öquist Gustav Öquist Dept. of Linguistics, University of Uppsala, SwedenDept. of Linguistics, University of Uppsala, Sweden

gustav@stp.ling.uu.segustav@stp.ling.uu.se

Ingela LewaldIngela LewaldStockholms DyslexiCentrum AB, Stockholm, SwedenStockholms DyslexiCentrum AB, Stockholm, Sweden

ingela@stockhomsdyslexicentrum.seingela@stockhomsdyslexicentrum.se

Aspects of language processing to be a Aspects of language processing to be a

proficient readerproficient reader Phonetic awarenessPhonetic awareness

How a sequence of letters, or graphemes, translate into phonemesHow a sequence of letters, or graphemes, translate into phonemes

MMorphological awarenessorphological awareness

How sequences of phonemes make up morphemes, the smallest How sequences of phonemes make up morphemes, the smallest meaningful units of a word meaningful units of a word Important for understanding multisyllabic wordsImportant for understanding multisyllabic words

WWorking memoryorking memory

Enables the reader to link words and sentences together into a meaningful Enables the reader to link words and sentences together into a meaningful discourse discourse

Mann, V. (1998). Language Problems: A Key to Early Reading Mann, V. (1998). Language Problems: A Key to Early Reading Problems, in Problems, in Learning about Learning Disabilities,Learning about Learning Disabilities, Academic Press Academic Press

For dyslectics, the primary problem is:For dyslectics, the primary problem is: the conversion from letters to sounds the conversion from letters to sounds

or rather or rather graphemes to phonemes graphemes to phonemes

Most languages does not have a one-to-one Most languages does not have a one-to-one mapping between graphemes and phonemes; mapping between graphemes and phonemes;

shipships h i p s h i p

[sh] [i] [p][sh] [i] [p]

Pre-Codia is supposed to ease the reading: Pre-Codia is supposed to ease the reading: Hyphenates words according to a morpheme-Hyphenates words according to a morpheme-

based segmentationbased segmentation

Pre-Codia: SettingsPre-Codia: Settings

ExperimentExperiment•Subjects: 16 dyslectics from grade 8-9 at Ängkärrsskolan, Stockholm, 11 boys and 5 girls•Text material: excerpts (app. 900 words) from the book Lord

of the Flies (Swedish text) by William Golding•LIX value: 26-29•Randomized balanced design•Training•Conditions: PreCodia screen presentation and paperback

NonsegmentedMorpheme-segmented

Parameter settings during TrainingParameter settings during Training

Variable Mean Min Max

Individually selected Pre-Codia settings (screen)

Font size Times New Roman

20 18 24

Font colour Black (N=11) Blue, red, white (N=5)

Background colour White (N=8) Blue, red/pink, green, yellow, black (N=8)

Line spacing 0.34 0.1 0.8

Left-aligned Yes

Element spacing (0-6) 1 (N=11) 0 (no spacing N=3) 2 (N=2)

Results: Objective metricsResults: Objective metrics

Reading speed

PreCodia significantly slower: 107 wpm vs. 119 wpm

Comprehension

No difference

Eight preferred Pre-CodiaFive preferred text presented on paperThree were indifferent

Results: Subjective ratingsResults: Subjective ratings

Perceived difficulty*, Perceived strain/effort*

DiscussionDiscussionThe decoding procedure is eased by changing

Background colour/font colourLager font size Increased line spacingMorpheme-based segmentation

Perceived versus actual reading speed

Word length at which morpheme-based segmentation starts

Next step:Automatic morpheme- and syllable parser for SwedishWeb interface for reading text