Room to read: The effect of extra-large letter spacing and coloured overlays on reading speed and accuracy in adolescents with dyslexia.

BACKGROUND

Coloured overlay and extra-large letter spacing may improve reading speed and accuracy in individuals with dyslexia; however, research has yet to identify which types of reading errors are diminished.

AIM: To determine the impact of extra-large letter spacing and colour overlay on reading and assess the impact of both interventions on reading errors.

SAMPLE: Thirty-two dyslexic children were matched on age, verbal and non-verbal IQ with 27 children with no diagnosis of dyslexia. The average age of each group was 13 years.

METHOD: Participants read four texts with either standard or extra-large letter spacing with or without a coloured overlay.

RESULTS

Extra-large letter spacing significantly improved reading speed more substantially for the dyslexia group. In addition, extra-large letters significantly reduced the number of missed word errors made by the dyslexia group. In contrast, coloured overlays did not significantly impact reading speed or the reduction of errors.

CONCLUSION

Increasing letter spacing is an effective way for teachers to improve reading skills in students with dyslexia.