TY - JOUR
T1 - Reading impairment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
T2 - A pilot study to investigate similarities and differences with developmental dyslexia
AU - Astrea, Guja
AU - Pecini, Chiara
AU - Gasperini, Filippo
AU - Brisca, Giacomo
AU - Scutifero, Marianna
AU - Bruno, Claudio
AU - Santorelli, Filippo Maria
AU - Cioni, Giovanni
AU - Politano, Luisa
AU - Chilosi, Anna Maria
AU - Battini, Roberta
PY - 2015/10/1
Y1 - 2015/10/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Dystrophin
KW - Neuromuscular disorders
KW - Phonological processing
KW - Rapid automatized naming
KW - Reading decoding impairment
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ridd.2015.07.025
DO - 10.1016/j.ridd.2015.07.025
M3 - Article
C2 - 26255617
AN - SCOPUS:84938691659
VL - 45-46
SP - 168
EP - 177
JO - Research in Developmental Disabilities
JF - Research in Developmental Disabilities
SN - 0891-4222
ER -