Rhythmic Reading Training Compared to 'Abilmente' Method

Effectiveness of Intervention for Developmental Dyslexia: Rhythmic Reading Training Compared to 'Abilmente' Method

The purpose of the present study is to compare the effectiveness of Rhythmic Reading Training (RRT), a computer-assisted intervention method that combines sublexical reading exercises with rhythm processing, and that of a multimodal intervention comprising different methodology, called 'Abilmente'. All interventions were delivered for a period ranging 1-2,5 months, in 60 minutes biweekly sessions.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Developmental Dyslexia
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: RRT+sat; Behavioral: Abilmente

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 32
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Milan, Italy, 20123
    • Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
  • Milan, Italy
    • Studio Abilmente

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 9 years to 13 years (CHILD)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• having been diagnosed with DD (ICD-10 code: F81.0) on the basis of standard inclusion and exclusion criteria (ICD-10: World Health Organization, 1992) and of the diagnosis procedure followed in the Italian practice

Exclusion Criteria:

• presence of comorbidity with other neuropsychiatric or psychopathological conditions (whereas comorbidity with other learning disabilities were allowed)
• exclusion criteria for the use of tDCS (e.g. epilepsy, pregnancy).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: RRT+sat; RRT in combination with specific auditory training (sat) administered for a total of 20 hours over 10 weeks (60 minutes biweekly sessions).	Behavioral: RRT+sat; RRT is a child-friendly computerized reading training program designed for Italian students with DD aged 8-14 yrs. The main feature of this intervention is the integration of a traditional remediation approach (sublexical treatment) with rhythm processing. Therefore, all reading exercises are characterized by a rhythmic accompaniment with gradually increasing speed. For this study, RRT was delivered in combination with a specific auditory training involving several music games specifically designed for improving auditory processing abilities typically compromised in children with DD.
EXPERIMENTAL: Abilmente; Abilmente method administered for a total of 10 hours over 5 weeks (60 minutes biweekly sessions).	Behavioral: Abilmente; 'Abilmente' method is an intervention for DD that comprises several validated treatments resulting in a proposal tailored to meet individual needs and features.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Text reading accuracy expressed in number of errors change	Text reading accuracy expressed in number of errors The ability to read aloud a text was assessed using the Italian standardized test 'Prove di lettura MT', which provides speed and accuracy scores in reading aloud age-normed texts.	1 month
Text reading speed expressed in syllables per seconds change	The ability to read aloud a text was assessed using the Italian standardized test 'Prove di lettura MT', which provides speed and accuracy scores in reading aloud age-normed texts.	1 month
Word reading speed expressed in syllables per seconds change	The ability to read aloud lists of words was assessed using the following Italian standardized tests: 'Assessment battery for Developmental Dyslexia and Dysorthography-2' (Batteria per la valutazione della dislessia e disortografia evolutiva - DDE-2), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for word reading (4 lists of 28 words each with different lengths and frequency of use); 'Word and pseudo-word reading test' (WPRT, Prova di lettura di parole e non parole), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for word reading (4 lists of 30 words varying according to length: short vs. long and frequency of use: low vs. high frequency).	1 month
Word reading accuracy expressed in number of errors change	The ability to read aloud lists of words was assessed using the following Italian standardized tests: 'Assessment battery for Developmental Dyslexia and Dysorthography-2' (Batteria per la valutazione della dislessia e disortografia evolutiva - DDE-2), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for word reading (4 lists of 28 words each with different lengths and frequency of use); 'Word and pseudo-word reading test' (WPRT, Prova di lettura di parole e non parole), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for word reading (4 lists of 30 words varying according to length: short vs. long and frequency of use: low vs. high frequency).	1 month
Pseudo-word reading speed expressed in syllables per seconds change	The ability to read aloud lists of pseudo-words was assessed using the following Italian standardized tests: 'Assessment battery for Developmental Dyslexia and Dysorthography-2' (Batteria per la valutazione della dislessia e disortografia evolutiva - DDE-2), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for pseudo-word reading (2 lists of 16 pseudo-words each with different lengths); 'Word and pseudo-word reading test' (WPRT, Prova di lettura di parole e non parole), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for pseudo-words reading (2 lists of 30 pseudo-words varying for length: short vs. long).	1 month
Pseudo-word reading accuracy expressed in number of errors change	The ability to read aloud lists of pseudo-words was assessed using the following Italian standardized tests: 'Assessment battery for Developmental Dyslexia and Dysorthography-2' (Batteria per la valutazione della dislessia e disortografia evolutiva - DDE-2), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for pseudo-word reading (2 lists of 16 pseudo-words each with different lengths); 'Word and pseudo-word reading test' (WPRT, Prova di lettura di parole e non parole), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for pseudo-words reading (2 lists of 30 pseudo-words varying for length: short vs. long).	1 month
Text reading accuracy expressed in number of errors change	Text reading accuracy expressed in number of errors The ability to read aloud a text was assessed using the Italian standardized test 'Prove di lettura MT', which provides speed and accuracy scores in reading aloud age-normed texts.	2.5 months
Text reading speed expressed in syllables per seconds change	The ability to read aloud a text was assessed using the Italian standardized test 'Prove di lettura MT', which provides speed and accuracy scores in reading aloud age-normed texts.	2.5 months
Word reading speed expressed in syllables per seconds change	The ability to read aloud lists of words was assessed using the following Italian standardized tests: 'Assessment battery for Developmental Dyslexia and Dysorthography-2' (Batteria per la valutazione della dislessia e disortografia evolutiva - DDE-2), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for word reading (4 lists of 28 words each with different lengths and frequency of use); 'Word and pseudo-word reading test' (WPRT, Prova di lettura di parole e non parole), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for word reading (4 lists of 30 words varying according to length: short vs. long and frequency of use: low vs. high frequency).	2.5 months
Word reading accuracy expressed in number of errors change	The ability to read aloud lists of words was assessed using the following Italian standardized tests: 'Assessment battery for Developmental Dyslexia and Dysorthography-2' (Batteria per la valutazione della dislessia e disortografia evolutiva - DDE-2), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for word reading (4 lists of 28 words each with different lengths and frequency of use); 'Word and pseudo-word reading test' (WPRT, Prova di lettura di parole e non parole), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for word reading (4 lists of 30 words varying according to length: short vs. long and frequency of use: low vs. high frequency).	2.5 months
Pseudo-word reading speed expressed in syllables per seconds change	The ability to read aloud lists of pseudo-words was assessed using the following Italian standardized tests: 'Assessment battery for Developmental Dyslexia and Dysorthography-2' (Batteria per la valutazione della dislessia e disortografia evolutiva - DDE-2), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for pseudo-word reading (2 lists of 16 pseudo-words each with different lengths); 'Word and pseudo-word reading test' (WPRT, Prova di lettura di parole e non parole), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for pseudo-words reading (2 lists of 30 pseudo-words varying for length: short vs. long).	2.5 months
Pseudo-word reading accuracy expressed in number of errors change	The ability to read aloud lists of pseudo-words was assessed using the following Italian standardized tests: 'Assessment battery for Developmental Dyslexia and Dysorthography-2' (Batteria per la valutazione della dislessia e disortografia evolutiva - DDE-2), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for pseudo-word reading (2 lists of 16 pseudo-words each with different lengths); 'Word and pseudo-word reading test' (WPRT, Prova di lettura di parole e non parole), in which speed and accuracy scores were computed for pseudo-words reading (2 lists of 30 pseudo-words varying for length: short vs. long).	2.5 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
• Investigators: Study Director: Alessandro Antonietti, PhD, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): June 26, 2017
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): October 12, 2017
• Study Completion (ANTICIPATED): April 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 20, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 23, 2017
• First Posted (ACTUAL): June 26, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): January 25, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 23, 2018
• Last Verified: January 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Intervention; Reading; Music; Developmental Dyslexia; Rhythm
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Language Disorders; Communication Disorders; Learning Disabilities; Dyslexia
• Other Study ID Numbers: RRT-Abilmente

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No