Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?This project will (a) examine the relationship between knowledge retrieval and inferencing; (b) determine the effectiveness of an intervention that improves knowledge retrieval and inferencing among struggling readers; and (c) expand research opportunities for undergraduates. The research design uses 316 struggling readers in grades 4-6 of diverse backgrounds. The effects of knowledge retrieval (accuracy and speed) on inferencing will be modeled without dichotomizing the distribution. Linear mixed effect models will be fit to determine whether reader characteristics make unique contributions to inferencing across the posttest and follow-up data collection time points. First, several structural models will be considered as students may be nested in teachers, schools, and tutors. Unconditional models will estimate the intraclass correlation for each level of the study design. If significant interclass correlations emerge, multilevel models will be fit to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention while controlling for covariates such as pre-test performance on inference-related measures and child-attributes such as English learner status. The primary analysis plan assumes an intent-to-treat model in which the efficacy of two intact conditions will be tested. Effect sizes will be estimated to report the magnitude of difference between the two conditions. Expected outcomes include (a) the identification of a method that effectively facilitates knowledge retrieval and the application of relevant knowledge to form inferences among elementary struggling readers from diverse backgrounds; (b) the validation of an intervention that teaches struggling readers how to activate, retrieve, and interweave relevant knowledge with information in the text and accurately form inferences while reading that can be broadly implemented in general education classrooms; and (c) expansion of undergraduate research opportunities, particularly among students from diverse backgrounds who have been historically underserved.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Inference Intervention for Dyslexia?
Research shows that interventions focusing on reading strategies, like associating words with images, can significantly improve reading accuracy in dyslexic patients, as seen in a study where a patient maintained high reading accuracy even months after training. Additionally, retrieval practice, which involves recalling information to enhance memory, has shown benefits in improving language outcomes in people with memory and language impairments, suggesting potential benefits for dyslexia treatment.
12345How does the Inference Intervention treatment for dyslexia differ from other treatments?
The Inference Intervention treatment for dyslexia is unique because it focuses on enhancing reading comprehension by improving the ability to make inferences and retrieve knowledge, rather than just focusing on word-level reading skills. This approach is different from traditional methods that primarily target phonological awareness and decoding skills.
12567Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for struggling readers in grades 4-6 who read below a certain level on the Test of Silent Reading Efficiency. It's not for kids with significant cognitive or behavioral disabilities.Inclusion Criteria
You score below 93 on a reading test.
Exclusion Criteria
You have a serious behavior-related disability.
You have a serious problem with your memory or thinking.
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Intervention
Students are taught a knowledge base about Egypt and practice retrieval across testing sessions
4 weeks
4 testing sessions (in-person)
Post-Intervention Assessment
Students are assessed on their retention of the knowledge base and inferencing abilities immediately after the intervention
1 week
1 visit (in-person)
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for long-term retention of knowledge and inferencing abilities
1 month
1 visit (in-person)
Participant Groups
The study tests how improving knowledge retrieval affects making inferences while reading. It compares two educational methods using statistical models to see which one helps students understand texts better.
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Placebo Group
Group I: Variable TestExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Students will be taught a knowledge base comprised of 18 facts about Egypt. After learning the knowledge base to criterion, students will practice retrieving the knowledge base across four testing sessions spaced 24 hours apart. Students will receive different questions across testing sessions. Next, students will read 6 passages about Egypt and then answer literal and inferential questions about the passages. Immediately after reading the passages, students will get re-tested on their retention of the knowledge base and use of the knowledge base to form inferences. They will also get retested one week and one month later to examine students' long-term retention of the knowledge base and use to make inferences.
Group II: Repeated TestExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Students will be taught a knowledge base comprised of 18 facts about Egypt. After learning the knowledge base to criterion, students will practice retrieving the knowledge base across four testing sessions spaced 24 hours apart. Students will receive the same questions repeated across testing sessions. Next, students will read 6 passages about Egypt and then answer literal and inferential questions about the passages. Immediately after reading the passages, students will get re-tested on their retention of the knowledge base and use of the knowledge base to form inferences. They will also get retested one week and one month later to examine students' long-term retention of the knowledge base and use to make inferences.
Group III: PlaceboPlacebo Group2 Interventions
Students will be taught a knowledge base comprised of 18 facts about Egypt. After learning the knowledge base to criterion, students will re-read the passages. They will not receive any questions. Next, students will read 6 passages about Egypt and then answer literal and inferential questions about the passages. Immediately after reading the passages, students will get re-tested on their retention of the knowledge base and use of the knowledge base to form inferences. They will also get retested one week and one month later to examine students' long-term retention of the knowledge base and use to make inferences.
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Excelsior Springs School DistrictExcelsior Springs, MO
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
William Jewell CollegeLead Sponsor
References
Diagnosis and rehabilitation attempt of a patient with acquired deep dyslexia. [2019]This study presents a patient (JH) suffering from acquired deep dyslexia. According to a cognitive model of reading, JH exhibited a significant impairment in both the phonological and lexical routes to reading. A rehabilitation program was proposed. We decided to focus on the lexical route using a priming paradigm. The written words were associated with a picture and the patient was invited to construct a mental association between the written word and the image. During five sessions, JH was trained to read 50 words. A pre-test, a post-test, and an 8-month follow-up session consisted of reading 140 written words including the 50 trained words. At the post-test, 90% of the trained words were accurately read. At the follow-up session, JH's reading performance for the trained words was still highly accurate at 84%. This strong effect is discussed and ways of increasing the patient's abilities to read are proposed.
The education of dyslexic children from childhood to young adulthood. [2020]The past two decades have witnessed an explosion in our understanding of dyslexia (or specific reading disability), the most common and most carefully studied of the learning disabilities. We first review the core concepts of dyslexia: its definition, prevalence, and developmental course. Next we examine the cognitive model of dyslexia, especially the phonological theory, and review empiric data suggesting genetic and neurobiological influences on the development of dyslexia. With the scientific underpinnings of dyslexia serving as a foundation, we turn our attention to evidence-based approaches to diagnosis and treatment, including interventions and accommodations. Teaching reading represents a major focus. We first review those reading interventions effective in early grades, and then review interventions for older students. To date the preponderance of intervention studies have focused on word-level reading; newer studies are beginning to examine reading interventions that have gone beyond word reading to affect reading fluency and reading comprehension. The article concludes with a discussion of the critical role of accommodations for dyslexic students and the recent neurobiological evidence supporting the need for such accommodations.
Efficacy of dynamic visuo-attentional interventions for reading in dyslexic and neurotypical children: A systematic review. [2019]Dyslexia is associated with phonological and visuo-attentional deficits. Phonological interventions improve word accuracy and letter-sound knowledge, but not reading fluency. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of dynamic computerized visuo-attentional interventions aimed at improving reading for dyslexic and neurotypical children aged 5-15. Literature searches in Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Scopus, ERIC, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library identified 1266 unique articles, of which 18 met inclusion criteria (620 participants; 91.40% dyslexic). Three types of visuo-attentional interventions were identified. Results show that visual perceptual training (n = 5) benefited reading fluency and comprehension, visually-based reading acceleration programs (n = 8) improved reading accuracy and rate, and action video games (n = 5) increased rate and fluency. Visuo-attentional interventions are effective options for treating childhood dyslexia, improving reading generally equal to or greater than other strategies. Initial evidence indicates that visuo-attentional interventions may be efficacious in different orthographies, and improve reading for at least two months after intervention. Larger sample interventions on a wider range of reading skills with follow-up assessment are needed to further clarify their effectiveness.
Retrieval Practice in Memory- and Language-Impaired Populations: A Systematic Review. [2020]Neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and stroke, may impair memory and language. A technique called retrieval practice (RP) may improve memory and language outcomes in such clinical populations. The RP effect refers to the finding that retrieving information from memory leads to better long-term retention than restudying the same information. Although the benefits of RP have been repeatedly observed in healthy populations, less is known about its potential applications in cognitive rehabilitation in clinical populations. Here we review the RP literature in populations with acquired memory and language impairments.
[Unsolved problems in research on difficulties of lexical access: a programme for the future]. [2009]Difficulties of lexical retrieval are a complex syndrome which is hard to delimit. The syndrome implies an unexpected failure in word identification, access to meaning, pronunciation and spelling. It affects individuals with normal intelligence and interferes significantly with academic achievement and with everyday tasks that involve the ability to read. It is estimated that 4% of school age children in the USA suffer from it, compared to 2% in Spain. The chronic nature of dyslexia and the social and emotional problems that it brings about are of considerable concern to education professionals. In this paper we attempt an exhaustive review of recent studies on this topic. We use this review as a basis to reflect on the repercussions of recent findings for the design of effective assessment tasks and intervention techniques.
Tiers of intervention in responsiveness to intervention: prevention outcomes and learning disabilities identification patterns. [2019]Response to Intervention (RTI) models have attracted great attention as an alternative to traditional methods used for identifying students with learning disabilities. A major feature of this approach is the implementation of academic interventions in general education and measuring the student's response to those interventions. A common question that needs to be addressed is the number of stages or tiers of intervention necessary in the Response to Intervention model. This article reviews three studies of RTI that investigate the RTI tiers. Sharon Vaughn and Rollanda O'Connor report on studies using the Standard Protocol approach to RTI. David Tilly reports on using the Problem Solving Model as an RTI model. This article summarizes the results of these three investigations.
Dyslexia: advances in clinical and imaging studies. [2011]The aim of this report is to describe the characteristics of Japanese dyslexia, and to demonstrate several of our studies about the extraction of these characteristic and their neurophysiological and neuroimaging abnormalities, as well as advanced studies of phonological awareness and the underlying neural substrate. Based on these results, we have proposed a 2-step approach for remedial education (e-learning web site: http://www.dyslexia-koeda.jp/). The first step is decoding, which decreases reading errors, and the second is vocabulary learning, which improves reading fluency. This 2-step approach is designed to serve first grade children. In addition, we propose the RTI (response to intervention) model as a desirable system for remedial education.