Dyslexia: Could An Early Intervention Narrow The Achievement Gap?

Dyslexia is a learning disorder characterized by difficulties reading from problems identifying both speech sounds and learning how to properly relate to letters and words. Though there is no cure for the problem, detecting the problem as early as first grade can narrow or even close the achievement gap with typical readers.

A new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and Yale University indicates that it's important to address the learning disability as soon as possible--not waiting until a child is in third grade or later to undertake efforts that would further help out.

Researchers focused on a longitudinal study of reading from first grade to 12th grade and beyond. The findings revealed that dyslexic readers showed lower reading scores when compared to early first graders. Furthermore, their trajectories over time never converged with those of typical readers, the study authors said.

"If the persistent achievement gap between dyslexic and typical readers is to be narrowed, or even closed, reading interventions must be implemented early, when children are still developing the basic foundation for reading acquisition," said Emilio Ferrer, a UC Davis psychology professor, in a news release.

The findings reveal that such differences are not so much a function of increasing disparities over time, but more so reflect marked differences already present in first grade between typical and dyslexic readers. 

Implementing effective reading programs early during kindergarten or even preschool can offer the potential to close this achievement gap, researchers say. 

The study is published in The Journal of Pediatrics.

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