E-Readers Make Reading Easier for Students with Dyslexia

E-readers continue to grow in popularity as people download books to read on their handheld devices. Now, scientists have found that these electronics aren't just convenient; they're also easier to read. They've discovered that some people with dyslexia can read more easily, quickly and with greater comprehension when using an e-reader than when using a book.

In many cases of dyslexia, there's a component called visual attention deficit. This is marked by an inability to concentrate on letters within words or words within lines of text. Another element of dyslexia is known as visual crowding. This includes the failure to recognize letters when they are cluttered within the word. Yet an e-reader can transform sentences into short lines that are easier to read and manage.

In order to examine whether or not e-readers could make a difference, the scientists tested the reading comprehension and speed of 103 students with dyslexia. More specifically, they compared reading on paper with reading on small hand-held e-reader devices configured to lines of text that were a mere two-to-three words long.

In the end, the researchers found that e-readers significantly improved speed and comprehension in many of the students. In addition, they discovered that the students with a pronounced visual attention deficit benefited most from reading text on handheld devices versus on paper. The reverse was true for those that did not display these issues.

"The high school students we tested at Landmark had the benefit of many years of exception remediation, but even so, if they had visual attention deficits they will eventually hit a plateau, and traditional approaches can no longer help," said Matthew H. Schneps, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Our research showed that the e-readers help these students reach beyond those limits."

The findings reveal that these e-readers could be extremely useful for those that suffer from dyslexia. In fact, this reading method could be an effective intervention for struggling readers. In the future, dyslexic students could be equipped with e-readers and thus be better able to keep up with their peers.

The findings are published in the journal PLOS One.