In Chinese orthography, phonetic compounds comprise about 80% of the most frequent characters. They contain separate phonological and semantic elements, referred to as phonetic and semantic radicals respectively. A dominant type exists in which the se-mantic radical appears on the left and the phonetic radical on the right (SP characters); an opposite, minority structure also exists in which the semantic radical appears on the right and the phonetic radical on the left (PS characters). Through statistical analyses, connectionist modelling, behavioural experiments, and neuroimaging studies, this dis-sertation demonstrates that the distinct structures of these two types of characters allow us crucial insights into the relationship between brain structure and reading processes. The statistical analyses of a Chinese lexical database show that, because of the different information profiles of SP and PS characters and the imbalanced distribution between them in the lexicon, the overall information is skewed to the right. This information skew provides important opportunities to examine the interaction between foveal split-ting and the information structure of the characters. The foveal splitting hypothesis as-sumes a vertical meridian split in the foveal representation and the consequent contra-lateral projection to the two cerebral hemispheres; it has been shown to have important implications for visual word recognition. The square shape and the condensed structure of Chinese characters make them a severe test case for the split fovea claim. Through a lateralized cueing examination and a TMS study of the semantic radical combinability effect with foveally presented characters in character semantic judgements, a flexible division of labour between the hemispheres in character recognition is demonstrated, with each hemisphere responding optimally to the information in the contralateral visual hemifield. The interaction between stimulation site and radical combinability in the TMS study also provides further support for the split fovea claim, suggesting functional foveal splitting as a universal processing constraint in reading. Even if foveal splitting is true, it is still unclear about how far the effects of foveal split-ting can extend from the retina into the process of character recognition. We show that, in naming isolated, foveally presented SP and PS characters, adult male and female readers process them differently, with opposite patterns of ease and difficulty: males responded significantly faster to SP than PS characters; females showed a non-significant tendency in the opposite direction. This result is also supported by a corre-sponding ERP study showing larger N350 amplitude elicited by PS character than SP characters in the male brain, and an opposite pattern in the female brain. The split fovea claim suggests that the two halves of a centrally fixated character are initially processed in different hemispheres. The male brain typically relies more on the left hemisphere for phonological processing compared with the female brain, causing this gender difference to emerge. This interaction is also predicted by an implemented computational model, contrasting a split cognitive architecture, in which the mapping between orthography to phonology is mediated by two partially encapsulated, interconnected processing do-mains, and a non-split cognitive architecture, in which the mapping is mediated by a single, undifferentiated processing domain. Thus, the effects of foveal splitting in read-ing extend far enough to interact with the gender of the reader in a naturalistic reading task. In short, this dissertation demonstrates that foveal splitting is a universal language proc-essing phenomenon, precise enough to project the two radicals of a centrally-fixated Chinese character to different hemispheres to allow a flexible division of labour be-tween the two hemispheres to emerge, and its effects in reading extend far enough into word recognition to interact with the gender of the reader in a naturalistic reading task. The results can also be extrapolated to Chinese word and sentence processing as well as to other languages. This dissertation thus has contributed to a better understanding of the relationship between brain structure and language processes.

The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the level of comprehension of czech sentences with a different syntactic complexity in children with specific language impairment (SLI) and children at family risk for dyslexia (experimental groups) compared to typically developing peers (control group). Statistically significant differences were proven both between the SLI group and the family risk group and between the SLI group and control group. The assumed descending tendency of achievement in the test blocks was not substantiated.

This work treats the mutual relationships between dyslexia and teaching of French language. It proposes exercices for students with dyslexia which, being adapted to their specific learning difficulties, contribute to their reeducation. The exercices are designed especially for senior pupils and high school students of intermediate level. They may be used for individual instruction or in inclusive classrooms. This work can be used as a tool for teachers working with dyslexics who want to adapt the instruction to their special needs.

v TITTLE: Special Education Support for University Students with Dyslexia ABSTRACT: The diploma thesis is focused on special education support for university students with dyslexia. The task of the theoretical part is to describe diagnostics, learning strategies, reeducation of dyslexia and possible support for students with dyslexia at the university. The theoretical was drawn from the scientific literature. The aim of practical part is to detect how Universities provide support to their students. The aim was achieved by using analysis of university documents and websites and survey. KEYWORDS: dyslexia, special education support, learning strategies, university, student

This thesis deals with specific learning difficulties (SLD) in the context of teaching geography in upper primary schools and secondary schools, trying to figure out whether pupils and students have (or may have) specific learning difficulties when learning geography, whether such problems exist. If so, how can be these problems avoided or at least mitigated. To meet stated goals, it was necessary to answer fundamental questions about the specific learning disabilities. What SLD are? What type of SLD are known? What causes SLD? And what are the typical symptoms? After that, based on the findings from answers to these questions, qualitative research was realised through in-depth interviews. Respondents of these interviews were eight people with learning disabilities - dyslexia, dysgraphia, dysorthography, dyscalculia, and a combination. All interviews were recorded on a tape recorder, transcribed and analyzed using the methods of clustering and capturing patterns (so- called gestalts) using open and axial coding. The results of analysis of these interviews were summarised and provide some insight into the SLD related to teaching geography. KEYWORDS specific learning difficulties, dyslexia, education, teaching, geography

The research study focuses on the development of new appropriate tools suitable for dyslexia assessment of primary school children (grades sixth to ninth), and a process of their pilot standardization. The inspiration was found in the existing tests for different age groups and methods used abroad. Four newly created tests were included into the test battery (test of visual perception, phonological manipulation, auditory segmentation and rapid automatized naming) as well as two already existing tests, which are a part of the validation study (test of auditory discrimination from Novak's Diagnosis of specific learning disabilities battery and Symbol search subtest from Wechsler intelligence scale for children). The research group consisted of 155 students of primary school (grades sixth to ninth), 61 dyslectics and 94 intact students. The results between the intact group and the dyslexic group differed significantly in all tests. The test of phonological manipulation showed the strongest differentiation. The study includes a correlation analysis between the tests and norms created for both groups. The presented predictive model was able to correctly identify 77.4 % of "cases" in relation to the criterion dyslexic - intact group.

Studiens syfte är att bidra med kunskap om vilka anpassningar och strategier specialpedagoger och speciallärare använder i undervisningssammanhang för att diskutera hur klasslärare kan stödja läs- och skrivutvecklingen för elever med dyslexi. Med studien söker jag svar på hur arbetet kring elever med dyslexi ser ut samt vilken hjälp och vilket stöd lärare kan få från specialpedagog eller speciallärare. I bakgrunden presenteras information som kan vara betydelsefull vid fortsatt läsning och för att bli mer insatt i ämnet. Studien utgår från ett sociokulturellt perspektiv som presenteras i teoriavsnittet. Jag har valt att genomföra en kvalitativ studie där jag genomfört semistrukturerade intervjuer med tre specialpedagoger och två speciallärare. Studiens resultat visar på att grundorsaken till dyslexi är att eleven har en nedsatt fonologisk medvetenhet vilket ger konsekvenser på elevens stavning och avkodning. Detta kan vara betydelsefullt för klasslärare att ha kunskap om för att kunna upptäcka om eleven har dyslexi. För att veta om en elev har dyslexi genomförs en kartläggning av elevens fonologiska medvetenhet av skolans specialpedagog för att se om det finns indikationer till dyslexi. Arbetssätten ser snarlika ut för elever med dyslexi och för elever med läs- och skrivsvårigheter. Vad som oftast skiljer sig är kompenserade verktyg i form av surfplatta eller dator. Det visar sig även att elever med dyslexi kan träna på sina svårigheter men behöver hitta strategier för att utvecklas. I resultatet presenteras också att det är betydelsefullt att arbeta med Bornholmsmodellen i förskoleklass. Detta gynnar alla elever men framförallt elever med dyslexi då de tidigt får träna på den fonologiska medvetenheten med hjälp av språklekar. Trots att specialpedagogers roll i skolan är att arbeta för eleven och speciallärare med eleven är de sällan i klassrummet men de kan träffa eleven för intensiva träningsperioder och exempelvis ge klassläraren stöd i form av tips på anpassningar och insatser och utvärdera dessa. Det finns inte bara ett specifikt arbetssätt som passar alla elever med dyslexi. Alla elever är olika och undervisningen bör individanpassas efter den enskilde elevens förutsättningar. Om undervisningen individanpassas blir klassrummet inkluderande. Det ger goda förutsättningar att ha en skola för alla vilket grundskolans läroplan fastslår (Skolverket, 2016). / The purpose of the study is to provide knowledge of the adjustments and strategies special pedagogues and remedial teachers use in teaching contexts to discuss how class teachers can support reading and writing development for pupils with dyslexia in the classroom. With this study, I want to find answers about how the work around dyslexia pupils looks like and what assistance and support class teachers can receive from special pedagogues or remedial teachers. In the background, information is presented that may be of importance for the understanding of the study. The study is based on a socio-cultural perspective which is presented in the theory section. I have chosen to implement a qualitative study in which I used semi-structured interviews with three special pedagogues and two remedial teachers. The study's results indicate that the primary cause of dyslexia is that the pupil has a reduced phonological awareness, which has consequences for the pupil's spelling and word decoding. To know if a pupil is dyslectic, a pedagogical survey is conducted by the school´s special pedagogue to see if there are indications of dyslexia. The methods used in literacy teaching are similar to pupils with dyslexia and for pupils with reading and writing difficulties. What most often differ are compensatory tools in the form of iPad or computer. It also turns out that pupils with dyslexia can practice their difficulties but need to find strategies to develop them. It is also presented in the result that it is fruitful to work with the “Bornholmsmodellen” in pre-school class. This favors all pupils, but especially pupils with dyslexia, as they can train the phonological awareness early by using games about language. Although the role of special pedagogues in the school is to work for the pupil and remedial teachers with the pupil, they are rarely in the classroom but they can meet the pupil for intense training periods and, for example, giving the class teacher support in the form of tips on adjustments and interventions and evaluate these. There is not one specific way of working that fits pupils with dyslexia. All pupils are different and the teaching should be individualized according to the individual pupil's conditions. If the teaching is individualized, the classroom will be inclusive, this assume good conditions for having a school for all kind of pupils which Sweden’s elementary school's curriculum establishes (Skolverket, 2016).

Purpose of this study was to illustrate the complexity of dyslexia among university students. The method was a web-based survey, which was sent out by email to 145 students. The selection was university students, whom all had assistance granted. Results: Most respondents used extended time at the exam and audio books. The majority considered that the aid worked well, and most considered themselves sufficiently informed about available support. 60% of respondents lacked something in their support. The computer software, educational support and information from the university about assistance, are fields where improvement was sought after. Support from students who were in the same situation where something they wanted to improve. The conclusion was that the students felt that they must get more participation in the management of supporting aids. A proposal was to establish an association, were student’s whit dyslexia could be involved. In the group, students can work together to develop sustainable solutions that can be discussed with the examiners and coordinators for support. An information channel should be developed so that students who have not yet applied for support have the opportunity to do so. / Syftet med studien var att åskådliggöra komplexiteten kring dyslexi hos högskolestudenter. Syftet var även att diskutera hur pass studenteters behov av stöd, för sin dyslexi, möts av tillgängliga resurser, på undersökta högskolan. Metoden var webbenkäter, där en länk till enkäten skickades ut via e-post till totalt 145 studenter, från samordnaren för studenter med funktionsnedsättning. Urvalet baserades på studenter som nyligen läst och läste på högskolan vid undersökningstillfället. Ett viktigt kriterium var att alla respondenter hade beviljat stöd för sin funktionsnedsättning. Data exporterades till SPSS formaterades till diagram i Word, version 14. 6. 4. Resultat: Utökad tid vid salstentamen, ljudböcker och anteckningsstöd var stöden som användes av flest respondenter. Majoriteten ansåg att stödet fungerade bra och de flesta ansåg sig vara tillräckligt informerade, om tillgängliga stödfunktioner. 60 % av respondenterna saknade något i sitt stöd från högskolan. Programstödet på datorerna, pedagogiskt stöd och information om högskolans stöd till studenter som ännu inte sökt stöd önskades förbättras. 25 % svarade att Stöd från studenter i samma situation är något de vill ska förbättras. Slutsatsen är att studenterna i behov av stöd ansåg att de måste få mer delaktighet i hanteringen av beslut om stöd. Ett förslag som framkom i studien är att inrätta en förening, för studenter med exempelvis läs- och skrivsvårigheter/dyslexi att vara delaktiga i. I gruppen kan studenterna tillsammans arbeta fram hållbara lösningar som kan diskuteras med examinatorer och samordnare för stöd. Bättre lyhördhet behövs gällande det studenter saknar i sitt stöd och anpassning bör ske därefter. En informationskanal bör byggas upp, så att alla studenter som ännu inte sökt stöd, får möjligheten till detta. Även tydligare riktlinjer, ur ett samhällsperspektiv, behövs för utredningar av dyslexi.

This paper describes a qualitative study of upper-secondary students’ experiences of having dyslexia in the school environment. The purpose was to examine which positive and negative experiences they have had in school and how they experienced the support given. We also wanted to find out how they have felt about being diagnosed with dyslexia and whether/in what way the formal diagnosis changed their situation. We conducted semi structured interviews with seven upper-secondary students with dyslexia, and through interpretative phenomenological analysis came up with three themes. The results show that through time and experience the students learn to understand themselves and their difficulties better, but that they need support in this process. The study also points to the importance of students with dyslexia getting support by teachers who have knowledge of the disability and can offer the right kind of support, but who also see the students as individuals. Lastly, we found that in the students’ experience the best learning situation was offered to them in a smaller context outside the regular classroom setting. We draw three conclusions from our analysis: firstly, that it is important that teachers have a deep knowledge of dyslexia so as to individualize instruction. Secondly, that students need useful information about their disability on more than one occasion, and lastly, that mainstreaming isn’t always the best alternative for the student. We would welcome more research om how students receive information about their dyslexia and more studies on how to best organize special needs education, especially from a student perspective.

No description available.