Central executive and speed of processing deficit in Chinese developmental dyslexia: Its impact on word decoding and reading comprehension

Abstract

This study examined central executive (CE) and speed of processing (SOP), and their impacts on word decoding and reading comprehension among Chinese dyslexic children. Thirty dyslexic children, 30 chronological age-controls and 30 reading level-controls were recruited. Group comparisons showed that dyslexic children showed impairments of SOP and CE components such as inhibition of irrelevant information, handling two tasks simultaneously, long-term memory retrieval and working memory span. Regression analyses showed that CE and SOP had direct effects on word decoding; their effects on reading comprehension were mediated by word decoding. Results implied that untreated CE and SOP problems would magnify reading problems.