Phonological awareness intervention and attention efficiency in children at risk: evidence of effectiveness on visual attention.

Using a pretest and posttest comparison group design, this 20 weeks study investigated the effects of a phonological awareness training program (PATP) on attention efficiency (AE) in 57 children (age = 5 to 6 years) at risk. The experimental group received the PATP (EG; n=30). We obtained pretest and posttest measures of phonological awareness and AE.

Hemispheric asymmetry profiles during beginning reading: effects of reading level and word type.

We evaluated how right- and the left-temporal lobe activation of first (1(st) LR), second (2(nd)LR), and third (3(rd)LR) level readers (N = 60; Age = 6-9 years) varied with reading level, word characteristics, and cognitive abilities by using electroencephalogram measurements while the children read high-frequency/high-imageability, high-frequency/low-imageability, and nonsense words. The ANOVA showed significant interaction effects: 1(st)LR had greater right-hemispheric activation than 3(rd)LR, who had greater left-hemispheric activation; for nonsense words, 1(st)LR had lower left-hemisphere activation than that of 2(nd)LR and 3(rd)LR. The electroencephalogram (EEG) measure of hemispheric asymmetry indicated a developmental effect on lateralized activity in the temporal lobes of beginning readers during word reading.