Factors influencing difficulties in reading comprehension
Many children with Down syndrome make good progress with reading at the early stages. They
are good at visual word recognition and can read passages aloud correctly, but have more
difficulty in understanding the text. Although research has indicated that reading progress
in children with Down syndrome is held back by comprehension difficulties, the causes of
these difficulties have not been researched to date.
Research
This study will investigate a number of possible influences on reading comprehension in
children with Down syndrome, aged between 9 and 12 years, including language skills and
working memory abilities, and develop effective remedial strategies.
Investigators
Partners and advisors
Location
Study results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific publications. Practice
implications will be published in periodicals for families and professionals, including
Down Syndrome Research and Practice
and incorporated into freely available Down Syndrome Topics
advice and information summaries and Down Syndrome Issues
and Information books. Open Access articles and summaries will be provided
for reproduction in the newsletters and journals of associations, support groups
and professional societies.
Impact
- A detailed analysis of the development of reading comprehension and the reasons for
particular difficulties.
- Practical teaching strategies to improve reading comprehension and the independent
enjoyment of books.
We are seeking funds for this project.
If you would like to support this work, please visit our giving site for details
of how you can help or contact giving@downsed.org.