2021/11/26 by Magdalena Łuniewska, Marta Wójcik, Katarzyna Jednoróg · 1 voice
Computer Science · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Reading and Literacy Development #Tactile and Sensory Interactions #Text Readability and Simplification
paper · doi:10.1016/j.learninstruc.2021.101576
openalex publication_date 2021/11/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Recent studies have suggested that an increase of inter-letter spacing may improve reading performance of dyslexic readers by reducing visual crowding. However, these results have been difficult to replicate. This study directly compares reading accuracy and comprehension, as well as reading speed, and number and duration of fixations of 38 dyslexic and 32 typically reading children (10–14 years old) in regular, spaced (+2,5 pt), and condensed (−1,5 pt) conditions using a natural sentence-reading paradigm. Inter-letter spacing did not affect reading accuracy, comprehension, or speed. The lack of effects of inter-letter spacing was observed in both dyslexic and typical readers. Inter-letter spacing did not impact the number of fixations, but increased inter-letter spacing led to shorter fixations in dyslexic children. Decreased inter-letter spacing resulted in longer fixations in both groups. These results do not support the claim that dyslexics are more influenced by crowding than age-matched controls.