Skip to main content
Log in

Speech recognition-based and automaticity programs to help students with severe reading and spelling problems

  • Published:
Annals of Dyslexia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of two programs developed by the Frostig Center Research Department to improve the reading and spelling of students with learning disabilities (LD): a computer Speech Recognition-based Program (SRBP) and a computer and text-based Automaticity Program (AP). Twenty-eight LD students with reading and spelling difficulties (aged 8 to 18) received each program for 17 weeks and were compared with 16 students in a contrast group who did not receive either program. After adjusting for age and IQ, both the SRBP and AP groups showed significant differences over the contrast group in improving word recognition and reading comprehension. Neither program showed significant differences over contrasts in spelling. The SRBP also improved the performance of the target group when compared with the contrast group on phonological elision and nonword reading efficiency tasks. The AP showed significant differences in all process and reading efficiency measures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackerman, P. T., & Dykman, R. A. (1993). Phonological processes, confrontation naming, and immediate memory in dyslexia. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 26, 597–609.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball, E. W., & Blachman, B. A. (1988). Phoneme segmentation training: Effect on reading readiness. Annals of Dyslexia, 38, 208–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bereiter, C., Adams, M. J., Pressley, M., Rait, M., Case, R., McKeough, A., Hirshberg, J., Scardamalia, M., Brown, A., Campione, J., Carruthers, I., & Treadway, G. H. (2000). Open court. Columbus, OH: SRA/McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowers, P. G. (1993). Text reading and rereading: Predictors of fluency beyond word recognition. Journal of Reading Behavior, 25, 133–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, I. S., & Felton, R. H. (1990). Effects of instruction on beginning reading skills in children at risk for reading disability. Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 2, 223–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cope, B., & Kalantzis, M. (Eds.). (1993). The powers of literacy: A genre approach to teaching writing. London: Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowell, C. E., & Mosenfelder, D. (1993). Reading attainment system. New York: Educational Design, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, P. M., & Hall, D. P. (1994). Making words. Torrance, CA: Frank Schaffer Publications, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denckla, M. B., & Rudel, R. G. (1976). Rapid automatized naming (R.A.N.): Dyslexia differentiated from other learning disabilities. Neuropsychologia, 14, 471–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elkind, J., Cohen, K., & Murray, C. (1993). Using computer-based readers to improve reading comprehension of students with dyslexia. Annals of Dyslexia, 43, 238–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Engelmann, S., Meyer, L., Johnson, G., and Carnine, L. (1998). Corrective reading skill applications. (Decoding B1, B2, and C). Chicago, IL: Science Research Associates, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felton, R. H. (1993). Effects of instruction on the decoding skills of children with phonological-processing problems. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 26, 583–589.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, P. (1995). Speed drills for decoding automaticity. Farmington, ME: Oxton House Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, P. (1999). Getting up to speed. Perspectives 25, 12–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Follansbee, R. (2000). Speaking to write: Realizing the potential of speech recognition for secondary students with disabilities. http.//www.edc.org/spk2wrt/bob.html.

  • Foorman, B. R., Francis, D. J., Fletcher, J. M., Schatschneider, C., & Mehta, P. (1998). The role of instruction in learning to read: Preventing reading failure in at-risk children. Journal of Educational Psychology, 90, 37–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fry, E. B., Kress, J. E., & Fountoukidis, D. L. (1993). The reading teacher’s book of lists (3rd ed.). West Nyack, NY: The Center for Applied Research in Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fulk, B. M. (1997). Think while you spell: A cognitive motivational approach to spelling instruction. Teaching Exceptional Children, 29(4), 70–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerber, M. M., & Hall, R. J. (1989). Cognitive-behavioral training in spelling for learning handicapped students. Learning Disability Quarterly, 12, 159–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, S., & Voth, V. P. (1990). Spelling instruction: Making modifications for students with learning disabilities. Academic Therapy, 25(4), 447–457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, N., & Price, R. (1998). Explode the code. Cambridge, MA: Educators Publishing Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatcher, P., Hulme, C., & Ellis, A. W. (1994). Ameliorating early reading failure by integrating the teaching of reading and phonological skills: The phonological linkage hypothesis. Child Development, 65, 41–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hecker, L., Burns, L., Elkind, J., Elkind, K., & Katz, L. (2002). Benefits of assistive reading software for students with attention disorders. Annals of Dyslexia, 52, 243–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, M. K., & Redding, N. C. (1996). Patterns for success in reading and spelling: A multisensory approach to teaching phonics and word analysis. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heshusius, L. (1984). Why would they and I want to do it? A phenomenological-theoretical view of special education. Learning Disability Quarterly, 7, 363–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Higgins, E. L., and Raskind, M. H. (1997). The compensatory effectiveness of optical character recognition/speech synthesis on the reading comprehension of post-secondary students with learning disabilities. Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 8, 75–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Higgins, E. L., & Raskind, M. H. (2000). Speaking to read: A comparison of continuous vs. discrete speech recognition in the remediation of learning disabilities. Journal of Special Education Technology, 15, 19–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillerich, R. L. (1927). A writing vocabulary of elementary children. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaspars, J., Jernigan, M., Yoon, E., & King, S. (2001). Developing first-grade reading fluency through peer mediation. Teaching Exceptional Children, 34, 90–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, A. S., & Kaufman, N. L. (1998). Kaufman test of educational achievement. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurzweil Educational Systems. (1998). Kurzweil 3000TM. Waltham, MA: Kurzweil Educational Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leong, C. K. (1992). Enhancing reading comprehension with text-to-speech (DECtalk) computer system. Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 4, 205–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liberman, I. Y., Shankweiler, D., & Liberman, A. M. (1989). The alphabetic principal and learning to read. In D. Shankweiler & I. Y. Liberman (Eds.), Phonology and reading disability. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovett, M. W., Borden, S. L., Lacerenza, L., Benson, N. J., & Brackstone, D. (1994). Treating the core deficits of developmental dyslexia: Evidence of transfer of learning after phonologically and strategy-based reading training programs. Journal of Educational Psychology, 30, 805–822.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovett, M. W., Lacerenza, L., & Borden, S. L. (2000). Putting struggling readers on the PHAST track: A program to integrate phonological and strategy-based remedial reading instruction and maximize outcomes. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 33, 458–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg, I. (1995). The computer as a tool of remediation in the education of students with reading disabilities—A theory-based approach. Learning Disability Quarterly, 18, 89–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg, I., Frost, J., & Petersen, O. P. (1988). Effects of an extensive program for stimulating phonological awareness in preschool children. Reading Research Quarterly, 23, 263–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg, I., & Olofsson, A. (1993). Can computer speech support reading comprehension? Computers in Human Behavior, 9, 282–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacArthur, C. A., & Cavalier, A. R. (2002). Dictation and speech recognition technology as accommodations in large-scale assessments for students with learning disabilities. http://www.state.de.us/aab/DSTP research.html, Attachment #11.

  • Mathes, P. G., Fuch, D., Fuch, L. S., Henley, A. M., & Sanders, A. (1994). Increasing strategic reading practice with Peabody classwide peer tutoring. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 9, 44–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, M. S., Wood, F. B., Hart, L. A., & Felton, R. H. (1998). The selective predictive values in rapid automatized naming within poor readers. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 31, 106–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Microsoft PowerPoint®. (1998). Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation.

  • Microsoft Windows®. (1998). Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corportation.

  • Microsoft Word® for Windows®. (1997). Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corportation.

  • Microsoft Word®. (2000). Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level [computer software]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohr, L. L. (1995, April). Teaching diverse learners in inclusive settings: Steps for adapting instruction. Paper presented at the 73rd Annual International Convention of the Council for Exceptional Children, Indianapolis, IN.

  • National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD). (1994). Learning disabilities issue on definition. In Collective perspectives on issues affecting learning disabilities: Position papers and statements (pp. 62–66). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, R. K., & Wise, B. W. (1992). Reading on the computer with orthographic and speech feedback. Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 4, 107–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perfetti, C. A., Beck, I., Bell, L., & Hughes, C. (1987). Phonemic knowledge and learning to read are reciprocal: A longitudinal study of first grade children. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 33, 283–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poplin, M. (1988). The reductionist fallacy in learning disabilities: Replicating the past by reducing the present. Learning Disability Quarterly 7, 389–400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rashotte, C. A., & Torgesen, J. K. (1985). Repeated reading and reading fluency in learning disabled children. Reading Research Quarterly 20, 180–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasinski, T. (2001, April). Revisiting reading rate as a diagnostic tool for reading difficulties. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Seattle, WA.

  • Raskind, M. H., & Higgins, E. L. (1999). Speaking to read: The effects of speech recognition technology on the reading and spelling performance of children with learning disabilities. Annals of Dyslexia 49, 251–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raskind, M. H., Higgins, E. L., Slaff, N. B., & Shaw, T. K. (1999). Assistive technology in the homes of children with learning disabilities: An exploratory study. Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 9, 47–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samuels, S. J. (1984). Automaticity and repeated reading. In J. Osborn, P. T. Wilson, & R. C. Anderson (Eds.), Reading education: Foundations for a literate America (pp. 124–144). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spring, C., & Perry, L. (1983). Naming speed and serial recall in poor and adequate readers. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 8, 141–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stahl, S., Heubach, K., & Crammond, B. (1997). Fluency-oriented reading instruction. Reading Research Report, 79, 1–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thaler, V., Ebner, E. M., Wimmer, H., & Landerl, K. (2004). Training reading fluency in dysfluent readers with high reading accuracy: Word specific effects but low transfer to untrained words. Annals of Dyslexia, 54, 89–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torgesen, J. K. (1995). A model of memory from an information processing perspective: The special case of phonological memory. In G. R. Lyon & N. A. Krasnegor (Eds.), Attention, memory, and executive function: Issues in conceptualization and measurement (pp. 157–184). Baltimore: Paul H. Brooks Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torgesen, J. K., Alexander, A. W., Wagner, R. K., Rashotte, C. A., Voeller, K. K., & Conway, T. (2001). Intensive remedial instruction for children with severe reading disabilities: Immediate and long-term outcomes from two instructional approaches. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 34, 33–58, 78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torgesen, J. K., Wagner, R. K., & Rashotte, C. A. (1997). Prevention and remediation of severe reading disabilities: Keeping the end in mind. Scientific Studies of Reading, 1, 217–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torgesen, J. K., Wagner, R. K., & Rashotte, C. A. (1999). Test of word reading efficiency. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torgesen, J., Wagner, R., Rashotte, C., Rose, E., Lindamood, P., Conway, T., & Garvan, C. (1999). Preventing reading failure in young children with phonological processing disabilities: Group and individual responses to instruction. Journal of Educational Psychology, 91, 579–593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, R. K., Torgesen, J. K., & Rashotte, C. A. (1994). The development of reading-related phonological processing abilities: New evidence of bi-directional causality from a latent variable longitudinal study. Developmental Psychology, 30, 78–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, R. K., Torgesen, J. K., & Rashotte, C. A. (1999). The comprehensive test of phonological processing. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1974). Wechsler intelligence scale for children-Revised. New York: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1991). Wechsler intelligence scale for children-III. New York: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiederholt, J. L. (1986) Formal reading inventory. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, G. S. (1993). Wide range achievement test-3 (WRAT-3). Wilmington, DE: Wide Range, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wise, B. W., Ring, J., & Olson, R. K. (1999). Training phonological awareness with and without explicit attention to articulation. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 72, 271–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wise, B. W., Ring, J., & Olson, R. K. (2000). Individual differences in gains from computer-assisted remedial reading. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 77, 197–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WizCom Technologies, Ltd. (2000). The quicktionary reading pen. Acton, MA: WizCom Technologies, Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, M., & Katzir-Cohen, T. (2001). Reading fluency and its intervention. Scientific Studies of Reading, 5, 211–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, M., Miller, L., & Donnelly, K. (2000). Retrieval, automaticity, vocabulary elaboration, orthography (RAVE-O): A comprehensive, fluency-based reading intervention program. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 33, 375–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worthy, J. (1996). A matter of interest: Literature that hooks reluctant readers and keeps them reading. Reading Teacher, 50, 204–212.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eleanor L. Higgins.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Higgins, E.L., Raskind, M.H. Speech recognition-based and automaticity programs to help students with severe reading and spelling problems. Ann. of Dyslexia 54, 365–388 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11881-004-0017-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11881-004-0017-9

Keywords

Navigation