Rhythmic Reading Training Compared to 'Abilmente' Method

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

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

Conditions
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Developmental Dyslexia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: RRT+sat
* Behavioral: Abilmente


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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).

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 9 Years
Maximum Age: 13 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: RRT+sat<br>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<br>* 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.<br>|
| Experimental: Abilmente<br>Abilmente method administered for a total of 10 hours over 5 weeks (60 minutes biweekly sessions). | Behavioral: Abilmente<br>* 'Abilmente' method is an intervention for DD that comprises several validated treatments resulting in a proposal tailored to meet individual needs and features.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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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 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Reading, Developmental Dyslexia, Music, Rhythm, Intervention