The inclusion of students with dyslexia in higher education: a systematic review using narrative synthesis

Twelve tips for implementing trigger or content warnings in healthcare professions education

Trigger warnings are statements offering prior notification of sensitive content, allowing recipients to prepare for and avoid ensuing distress. Students are increasingly reporting expectations for warnings in classrooms and learning contexts. Discussions regarding use of warnings have clear relevance to healthcare education, which regularly explores sensitive content. Their use has been positioned as a measure for inclusive education and as a means to enhance trauma awareness and empathy. Expectations for warnings need to be considered in the context of preparedness for professional practice. This Twelve Tips paper explores the evidence in relation to warnings and its applicability to social learning contexts. These tips highlight considerations and strategies for the use of warnings in the context of healthcare education, balancing issues of inclusivity, learner and educator wellbeing, and professional preparedness. These discussions are situated within the context of current classroom-based healthcare education.

Experiences of Students with Learning Disabilities in Higher Education: A Scoping Review

Background

As the number of students with learning disabilities (SwLD) entering higher education (HE) increases, a need arises to improve the services provided to them by understanding their experiences. This scoping review explores the extent and type of evidence on the experiences of SwLD in HE.

Method

The review followed the six stages outlined by Arksey and O'Malley. PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, ProQuest, and APA PsycNet were searched for primary data, and studies published between January 2012 and July 2022 were included. The following information was extracted and collated from the included studies: author/s, year, location, objective/aim, study design, materials and methods, and major findings.

Results

The search yielded 3729 titles and abstracts. Their screening resulted in 26 eligible articles. The review of these articles identified three major themes: (a) academic concerns, (b) psychosocial experiences, and (c) support systems and accommodations. The academic concerns included difficulties in areas such as reading, writing, and spelling. The studies on psychosocial experiences showed that SwLD experience stress, anxiety, and lower self-esteem. The studies on support systems and accommodations indicate that they get academic support, technological support, and extra time for examinations from educational institutions.

Conclusion

The SwLD experiences academic and psychosocial challenges during higher studies. However, the existing support systems do not address these challenges, and there is a need for further research in this area.

Dyslexic students' experiences in using assistive technology to support written language skills: a five-year follow-up

PURPOSE

This study presents several accounts of user experiences with assistive technology (AT). Although previous studies on dyslexic students reported promising results from using audiobooks, text-to-speech (TTS), and speech-to-text (STT), qualitative research is relatively sparse and short-term, and little is known about adolescents' long-term experiences of using AT in schools. Therefore, this five-year follow-up study aimed to describe dyslexic students' experiences of AT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nine students with dyslexia were interviewed using a semi-structured framework and a descriptive pattern-based thematic analysis. The students had previously participated in an AT intervention in Sweden.

RESULTS

Three main themes are reported: Contextual factors: facilitators or barriers; Emotional responses in the learning environment; Developing meaningful strategies. The results align with previous research findings that audiobooks are beneficial throughout the school years, while STT is of mixed utility. TTS was mainly used in learning to decode texts. Continued AT use is discussed thematically, concretising experiences connected to schools' multilevel support.

CONCLUSIONS

This study can contribute to the development of AT academic practices enriched by users' views. The findings reveal factors enabling or hindering students' continued AT usage. Contextual factors in schools concern organisational elements rather than AT accessibility. Students' emotional responses (using AT in the classroom) are influenced by dyslexia self-acceptance and AT attitudes. Students' understanding of how and why to use AT may limit the development of meaningful strategies. Implications and suggested further research are provided to improve dyslexic students' AT experiences and success in school.

Contributing to an inclusive education for neurodivergent students: sharing reflections, practices, and experiences

It is estimated that one in seven individuals, more than 15% of the population in the UK, are neurodivergent. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in university students disclosing disabilities, specific learning difficulties, or mental health conditions. Despite this, students with disabilities and learning differences often experience lower levels of well-being compared to their peers, and their completion rates are significantly lower. Two years ago, I was tasked with creating a training program for academic staff to enhance their support for neurodivergent students. In this commentary, I share reflections on what I have learned while developing this training, and I outline effective strategies and approaches that can be implemented in the design and delivery of educational content. I advocate a collaborative approach to training development with neurodivergent students and with colleagues with various roles. The commentary draws upon the Universal Design for Learning framework to advocate for an educational environment that is welcoming and accommodating to all learners. It champions strength-based practices, steering clear of the traditional deficit-focused narratives. My goal with this reflection is to prompt educators to reflect on their teaching methodologies, engage in conversations with their students, and to consider substantial pedagogical changes that prioritize inclusivity over reasonable adjustments.

Academic Achievement and Satisfaction Among University Students With Specific Learning Disabilities: The Roles of Soft Skills and Study-Related Factors

Understanding the individual qualities sustaining students with and without specific learning disabilities (SLDs) is key to supporting their academic achievement and well-being. In this study, we investigated the differences between students with and without SLDs in terms of intraindividual factors (soft skills and study-related factors), academic and nonacademic outcomes (achievement, academic and life satisfaction), and the relationships between such intraindividual factors and the three outcomes. A total of 318 students (79 males; Mage = 22.7; SD = 3.56; age range = 19-45 years; 147 with SLDs) completed self-reported questionnaires and a measure of fluid intelligence. The results showed that students with SLDs reported higher creativity but lower academic self-efficacy, study resilience, and academic achievement, with small-to-medium effect sizes. In both groups, achievement significantly positively related to academic self-efficacy and negatively to creativity. Life satisfaction was positively related to study resilience; and academic satisfaction was related to critical thinking, curiosity, and academic self-efficacy. Nurturing such intraindividual factors can benefit students with and without SLDs.

Lived Experiences of Everyday Memory in Adults with Dyslexia: A Thematic Analysis

Dyslexia-related difficulties with memory are well documented under laboratory conditions and via self-report questionnaires. However, the voice of the individual with dyslexia regarding the lived experience of memory across different memory systems and different daily settings is currently lacking. To address this gap in the literature, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 adult female university students with dyslexia. Questions probed different memory systems and experiences across different settings, with interviewees also being asked about their use of technology to support their memory. Two overarching themes were identified in the subsequent thematic analysis. The theme of fallibility of memory had two sub-themes of (i) a lack of trust and confidence in memory and (ii) factors contributing to memory failure. The second theme, facilitators of memory, also consisted of two sub-themes, relating to (i) a preference for traditional tools to support memory and (ii) the use of digital tools to support memory: benefits and limitations. The current study gives insights into the rich and complex extended and distributed cognitive systems of adults with dyslexia. The implications of the findings for dyslexia theory, support in educational and work settings as well as assistive technology development are considered.

Factors contributing to realizing valuable goals of students with dyslexia in higher education

When students with dyslexia enter higher education, studying often creates challenges at different levels. Universities differ in the way they facilitate students with dyslexia in their educational careers. This study focusses on studying with dyslexia from a value-driven perspective. The aim of the study is to investigate valuable goals of students with dyslexia in higher education and the conversion factors that are stimulating and inhibiting in the realization of these valuable goals. Data were collected during focus groups: five focus groups of students with dyslexia (23 participants) and two focus groups of student counsellors (10 participants). Important values for students are their personal development and to prove they can succeed at university level. Not all students are able or being enabled to show their knowledge and skills and to grow within the educational system. Different personal and environmental factors are described that inhibit or facilitate the realization of valuable goals. The results are presented from two perspectives: of students and student counsellors. The implications of the results and guidelines for future research are discussed.

Perceived negative consequences of dyslexia: the influence of person and environmental factors

Perceived negative consequences of dyslexia entail the degree to which an individual perceives negative outcomes, such as low academic achievement or feelings of anxiety and depression, and attributes these experiences to the disorder. In the current study, we examined how perceived consequences of dyslexia are influenced by person and environmental factors. Perceived consequences were evaluated for the academic domain and the domain of mental health (depression, anxiety). Participants were 123 Dutch students with dyslexia. Cognitive person factors (literacy skills and verbal IQ), socio-emotional person factors (self-perceived literacy skills and coping ability), and environmental factors (literacy demands, support from the institution, reactions of teachers and peers) were included as predictors. Results indicated that perceived negative consequences were not related to cognitive person factors. In contrast, better self-perceived literacy skills were associated with less perceived negative consequences in all domains (academic, depression, anxiety) and coping contributed to depression consequences. With respect to environmental factors, negative reactions in the academic environment contributed to perceived negative consequences of depression and anxiety. As such, findings indicate that individuals with dyslexia perceive negative consequences in the academic, anxiety, and depression domains which cannot be fully accounted for by their objective reading and writing problems. These factors should feature more prominently in future studies on dyslexia and should be addressed in treatment of dyslexia as well.

The revision process during handwritten text production: The case of French higher education students with dyslexia

The goal of this paper is to observe revision during handwritten text production of French students with and without dyslexia. Subjects with typical language development automate spelling during childhood and adolescence, progressively with experience, this enables them-according to capacity theory applied to written text production (McCutchen, Educational Psychology Review, 8, 1996, 299)-to allocate more cognitive resources to higher-level processes (Bereiter & Scardamalia, The psychology of written composition. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum, 1987). A lack of automation in spelling could result in poor compositional performance (Fayol & Miret, Psychologie Française, 50, 2005, 391). Moreover, Morken and Helland (Dyslexia, 19, 2013, 131) have shown that young children with dyslexia, engaged in a sentence dictation task, revise their text as much as control children, however their revisions are of lower quality. If students with dyslexia have not totally automated spelling (Mazur-Palandre, Développements (Revue Interdisciplinaire du développement Cognitif Normal et Pathologique), 18, 2016, 177), what is the impact on higher-level processes, such as revision? Our goal is to examine if students with dyslexia and control students proofread their texts in the same way. Results show that they display some similarity but students with dyslexia seem to have a deficit in the error detection mechanism (Horowitz & Breznitz, International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 58, 2011, 33) and revisions are less efficient. We discuss these results by considering previous studies we conducted on spelling, speech and neuropsychological assessments of our dyslexic participants.

Compassionate pedagogy for neurodiversity in higher education: A conceptual analysis

The neurodiversity paradigm challenges pathologising accounts of neurodevelopmental differences, including autism, attention deficit disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, developmental language disorder (DLD) and others. From a neurodiversity perspective, these differences in the way people perceive, learn about and interact with the world are conceptualised as naturally occurring cognitive variation, akin to biodiversity in the natural environment, which may bring unique strengths and challenges for individuals. An implication of this approach is that interventions designed to create contexts in which neurodivergent people can thrive are needed, in addition to those that seek to ameliorate individual-level difficulties. In this conceptual review, we consider how higher education can offer a context in which cognitive diversity can be noticed, welcomed and accepted with warmth. In universities, neurodiversity is one dimension of difference within an increasingly diverse student population, which overlaps - but is not synonymous - with disability. We argue that improving experience and outcomes for neurodivergent students should be a priority for universities aiming to produce graduates equipped to tackle the complex problems of contemporary society. Drawing on the foundational principles of compassion-focused psychological therapies, we consider how compassion can be enacted within interpersonal interaction, curriculum design, and leadership culture in universities. We apply the insights of double empathy theory to the problem of overcoming barriers of difference in the classroom. Finally, we make recommendations for Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and strengths-based pedagogical approaches, which create a fit-for-purpose educational environment for the widest possible range of learners. This realignment with the neurodiversity paradigm offers an antidote to bolt-on provisions for students who differ from the neuro-normative, and might enable neurodivergent thinkers to flourish within and beyond higher education.

Clustering analysis of factors affecting academic career of university students with dyslexia in Italy

This study was designed to explore learning experiences of university students with dyslexia and factors that could contribute to their success in the university career. Although, great efforts have been made to diagnose dyslexia and to mitigate its effects at primary and secondary school, little has been done at the university level in particular in the Italian context. Indeed in the university context, the availability and possibility to use of support tools, that enable the student to achieve educational success, is still not sufficiently adequate. In this paper we used bivariate association tests and cluster analysis, in order to identify the most suitable compensatory tools and support strategies that can facilitate the students' performance in higher education. The data were obtained through the voluntary participation of Italian students, enrolled in a bachelor degree course, with certified diagnosis of dyslexia. Six groups of students were identified from the cluster analysis, defining specific support tools and learning strategies for each group. Furthermore, through the creation of these six groups, it was possible to describe "profiles" that highlight the risk factors (late diagnosis) and-or protection factors (such as associations, support from friends and family) in analyzing the academic career of students with dyslexia. Therefore, starting from these data, through artificial intelligence it will be possible to identify and suggest study methodologies and create specific support tools for each student that can enable her/him to achieve educational success in her/his academic career.

The academic journey of students with specific learning difficulties undertaking pre-registration nursing programmes in the UK: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of nursing students with specific learning difficulties enrolled on pre-registration nursing programmes and the impact that this diagnosis has on their programme outcomes are currently unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this paper is to report on data that explored and compared the academic journey of students with and without learning difficulties on pre-registration nursing degree programmes.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort design.

SETTINGS

One university in the UK offering BSc Honours Degree programmes in Adult and Mental Health Nursing.

PARTICIPANTS

Pre-registration adult and mental health nursing students (n = 1152) enrolled in the programmes between 2012 and 2016.

METHODS

Pearson's Correlation, ANOVA and crosstabulation were used to identify the differences and associations between each group of students with the outcome variables grade percent average and programme completion.

RESULTS

A total of 12.5% of the students were identified as having a diagnosed specific learning difficulty and were entitled to reasonable adjustments. The analysis shows that their grade percent average and completion rates are equivalent to students without a specific learning difficulty.

CONCLUSIONS

The differences between students with a specific learning difficulty and those without are small across the variables measured. Reasonable adjustments appear to mitigate the learning difficulties that students with specific learning difficulties have. Educators need to continue to promote ways of identifying students with specific learning difficulties as early as possible in the student's academic journey. Responsive adjustments in teaching and assessment in theory and practice components should be implemented to ensure that all students' opportunities to succeed are maximised.

Remote learning among students with and without reading difficulties during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

This article presents the results of a survey on yet under-researched aspects of remote learning and learning difficulties in higher education during the initial stage (March - June 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 2182 students from University of Warsaw in Poland completed a two-part questionnaire regarding academic achievements in the academic year 2019/2020, living conditions and stress related to learning and pandemic, as well as basic demographic information, and Dyslexia Diagnosis Questionnaire (DDQ). The analyses were carried out in three sub-groups of students: who self-reported having a formal diagnosis of dyslexia (CDYS), self-reported reading difficulties, but had no formal diagnosis of dyslexia (SIDYS), and who reported no reading difficulties (CON). The results of the survey revealed that compared with the CON group, more students from CDYS and SIDYS groups did not pass at least one exam in the summer semester. CDYS and SIDYS groups experienced higher stress due to epidemiological restrictions, they had more difficulties than CON with the organisation of learning and obtaining credit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicate a need for special consideration of additional support for students experiencing reading difficulties (whether or not they have a formal diagnosis).

Do dyslexia and stuttering share a processing deficit?

This study assessed the prevalence of childhood stuttering in adults with dyslexia (AWD) and the prevalence of dyslexia in adults who stutter (AWS). In addition, the linguistic profiles of 50 AWD, 30 AWS and 84 neurotypical adults were measured. We found that 17 out of 50 AWD (34 %) reported stuttering during childhood compared to 1 % of the neurotypical population. This was moderated by the severity of dyslexia: People with mild dyslexia showed a lower prevalence rate (15 %) of childhood stuttering than those with severe dyslexia (47 %). In addition, we observed that 50 % of the AWS (n = 30) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of dyslexia, even though they had never been diagnosed as dyslexic. Compared to neurotypical adults, phonological working memory, awareness, and retrieval were similarly reduced in AWS and AWD. The findings supports the view that stuttering and dyslexia may share a phonological deficit.

Examining academic confidence and study support needs for university students with dyslexia and/or developmental coordination disorder

Higher education providers are seeing a shift from externally funded support for students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD), to a need to develop more inclusive practices generally. However, the precise needs of students with different SpLD diagnoses is unknown. A total of 367 students in England and Wales (163 students with dyslexia, 50 students with developmental coordination disorder [DCD/"dyspraxia"], 62 students with dyslexia and DCD, and 92 non-SpLD students) completed an online questionnaire to determine: (a) how confident they are with their study-related capabilities, (b) the types of support they access, and (c) their views on current inclusive practices. Students with dyslexia and students with dyslexia/DCD reported lower confidence in their grades and studying than non-SpLD students, and accessed more technology-related support than students with DCD only. Examination accommodations supporting writing were common for all SpLD students. Inclusive practices were perceived positively, although different priorities were seen across groups. The findings demonstrate the complexities inherent in providing effective support for all students at university, with the varied profiles across and within SpLD groups suggesting that an individualized approach is necessary. Practical implications are discussed.

Reading and reading-related skills in adults with dyslexia from different orthographic systems: a review and meta-analysis

An individual diagnosed with dyslexia in childhood typically remains dyslexic throughout his/her life. However, the cognitive profile of adults with dyslexia has been less explored than that of children. This meta-analytic study is intended to clarify three questions: (1) To what extent, and in what manner, do adults with reading difficulties (dyslexia) differ from typical adult readers in measures of reading and writing competence and related cognitive skills?; (2) To what extent do speed measures pose a greater challenge than accuracy measures in an adult population that has already had years of print exposure?; and (3) To what extent does orthographic transparency modulate the reading profile of adults with dyslexia? A total of 178 studies comparing adults with dyslexia and matched controls were reviewed. The results showed that adults with dyslexia exhibited poor performance on almost all reading and writing tasks expressed by very large effect sizes (range 1.735 ≤ d ≤ 2.034), except for reading comprehension (d = 0.729). Deficits in reading- and writing-related variables are also present but with a lower expression (range 0.591 ≤ d ≤ 1.295). These difficulties are exacerbated for speed measures, especially for word and pseudoword reading, phonological awareness and orthographic knowledge. Orthographic transparency proved to be a significant moderator of dyslexic deficits in word and pseudoword reading, reading comprehension, spelling and phonological awareness, with the expression of the deficits being weaker on transparent-as opposed to intermediate and opaque-orthographies. Overall, the meta-analysis shows that reading and writing difficulties persist in adulthood and are more pronounced in speed measures. Moreover, symptoms are more severe for reading and writing than they are for measures tapping into the cognitive processes underlying reading skills. Orthographic transparency has a significant effect on the manifestation of dyslexia, with dyslexia symptoms being less marked on transparent orthographies. In addition, phonological awareness seems to be a minor problem in adulthood, especially for transparent orthographies.

How does dyslexia impact on the educational experiences of healthcare students? A qualitative study

AIMS

To explore the impact of dyslexia on the educational experiences of undergraduate students in medicine, dentistry, dental therapy and biomedical sciences.

METHODS

It was a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at a University in the South West region of the United Kingdom. Purposive sampling was used, and the participants included undergraduate students from the schools of medicine, dentistry and biomedical sciences.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of fifteen undergraduate students including five from medicine; four from dentistry; three from dental therapy; and three from biomedical sciences. All students had a formal diagnosis of Dyslexia. The students shared their views and experiences regarding disclosure, transition into the university, learning environments, assessments and challenges after graduation.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to explore the impact of dyslexia on the educational experiences of healthcare students from multiple programmes in a variety of educational settings. The findings show that the students were confident regarding disclosure of their dyslexia and had a formal diagnosis of dyslexia established during their school years. Although the participants experienced typical academic difficulties associated with dyslexia, problem-based learning (PBL) was perceived to be enjoyable and less stressful than traditional lectures and no specific challenges were reported in acquisition of clinical, communication and team-working skills.

Inclusion by design: Embedding inclusive teaching practice into design and preparation of laboratory classes

INTRODUCTION

Creation of an inclusive learning environment and provision of individual adjustments are duties of higher education providers. However, laboratory practical teaching is not always inclusive beyond general university requirements. Lab classes can present many barriers to disabled learners. Proactive adjustments embedded into the design and preparation of laboratory classes can make lab-based teaching as inclusive and accessible as possible.

PERSPECTIVE

The main challenges, difficulties, and barriers experienced by students with disabilities during laboratory classes were identified and analysed. A review of a large number of sources was conducted, and the best available evidence of inclusive practice in science and medicine laboratories (including those already implemented in the Reading School of Pharmacy and Leicester School of Pharmacy) were retrieved, critically appraised, and summarized. Recommendations on embedding inclusive practices into the design and preparation of laboratory classes were developed, including methods for making the following accessible: (1) printed materials, such as handouts, instructions, notes, etc.; (2) video files; and (3) colours. Additionally, the use of a range of pedagogic techniques and assistive technologies in inclusive teaching is discussed.

IMPLICATIONS

We have developed general accessibility guides and provided laboratory teaching staff with examples of good inclusive teaching practice. Active implementation of the inclusive-by-design approach, in contrast to inclusive-on-request, can be beneficial for both learners and teaching staff since inclusion-by-design helps to establish a lasting inclusive culture in teaching laboratories.

The relative impacts of disclosure and secrecy: the role of (perceived) target response

This review examines the current trends in understanding the impact of individuals' decisions to either disclose information or continue to conceal it. As a whole, the evidence points to a relative benefit of disclosure over secret-keeping, but with clear cases, in which disclosure may be harmful. Advances in knowledge about factors that shape that impact, new research on the role verbal rumination with a partner following disclosure, and attention to the role of communal coping as an outcome of traumatic disclosures are addressed. In addition, recent re-conceptualization of secret-keeping, and investigations into the burden experienced by confidants are reviewed. Finally, a call for greater attention to the culture-specific impacts of disclosure decisions is made.

Inclusão no Ensino Superior: perceções de estudantes com dislexia

A educação inclusiva no Ensino Superior ainda representa um desafio de âmbito social, educacional e político, inclusive no percurso de estudantes com dislexia, essa que é uma condicionante da aprendizagem da leitura e da escrita. Acredita-se que a utilização de estratégias, suportes adequados e procedimentos didáticos direcionados podem possibilitar o desenvolvimento e aprimoramento das competências dos estudantes. Este estudo, de cariz qualitativo, verificou os suportes recebidos e os desafios enfrentados por 2 estudantes com dislexia que frequentam uma universidade pública de Portugal. Os dados foram recolhidos por meio de entrevistas e analisados com o suporte do software webQDA.

A Psychometric Tool for a Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Approach for Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a chronic problem that affects the life of subjects and often influences their life choices. The standard rehabilitation methods all use a classic paper and pencil training format but these exercises are boring and demanding for children who may have difficulty in completing the treatments. It is important to develop a new rehabilitation program that would help children in a funny and engaging way. A Wii-based game was developed to demonstrate that a short treatment with an action video game, rather than phonological or orthographic training, may improve the reading abilities in dyslexic children. According to the results, an approach using cues in the context of a virtual environment may represent a promising tool to improve attentional skills. On the other hand, our results do not demonstrate an immediate effect on reading performance, suggesting that a more prolonged protocol may be a future direction.

Academic performance of undergraduate dental students with learning disabilities

Aims To compare the academic performance of undergraduate dental students with known learning disabilities (LDs) to their peers.Methods This study analysed the results of students in applied dental knowledge (ADK) progress tests across four cohorts of dental students. A mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to compare the performance of students with known disability to their peers. ADK test sitting was treated as a repeated measures variable, and the outcome variable of interest was percentage score on the ADK.Results Students' performance data on five ADK test sittings (ADK15, ADK16, ADK17, ADK18, and ADK19) by disability showed a significant main effect of test but no significant effect of disability or any interaction between disability and test.Conclusions This is the first study that explores the academic performance of dental students with a diagnosis of disability. The findings give reassurance to all stakeholders that, within the study population, students with LDs are not disadvantaged in knowledge-based assessments, demonstrating compliance with the legal obligations. Further research is required to explore how generalisable these findings are, as well as assess academic, clinical, and behavioural attributes of students with learning disabilities.

University Students with Dyslexia: A Qualitative Exploratory Study of Learning Practices, Challenges and Strategies

People with dyslexia are vastly under-represented in universities (Katusic et al., , Richardson & Wydell, ; Stampoltzis & Polychronopoulou, ). This situation is of concern for modern societies that value social justice. This study was designed to explore learning experiences of university students with dyslexia and factors that could contribute to their success. Thirteen students with dyslexia and 20 non-dyslexic peers were interviewed about their university learning experiences using a semi-structured qualitative approach. Students with dyslexia described engaging in learning activities intensively, frequently and strategically. They reported challenges and strengths relating to study skills, lectures, assessments, technology and support services. They also described helpful strategies including self-directed adaptive techniques, provisions from lecturers and assistance from the university. These findings suggest that students with dyslexia experience broad challenges at university, but helpful strategies may be available. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Un análisis documental de la investigación en dislexia en la edad adulta

La dislexia en la edad adulta afecta alrededor del 4% de la población. Por ello, el objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los aspectos metodológicos, así como los temas de investigación, acerca de la dislexia en población adulta. A partir de una búsqueda bibliográfica en la base de datos del Psychological Abstracts: PsycoINFO, se identifican y seleccionan los trabajos sobre los que se centra la revisión. Los resultados indican respecto a la metodología que la mayoría de estudios emplean métodos cuantitativos de investigación (59.4%), frente al 5.7% que emplea métodos cualitativos. También se emplean en el 10% de los trabajos diseños de N=1, y, en menos del 10%, entrevistas, estudios longitudinales y técnicas neurobiológicas. En cuanto a los temas de investigación, el 40.6% de los trabajos se centran en analizar procesos cognitivos (conciencia fonológica, memoria, inteligencia, velocidad de procesamiento) y el rendimiento académico (lectura de palabras, lectura de pseudopalabras, ortografía y comprensión de textos), el 25.4% son estudios neurobiológicos (neurológicos y genéticos), el 12% se centran en la intervención, el 8% en identificación y el 5.4% analizan los problemas asociados a la dislexia en la edad adulta. Los objetivos prioritarios de la investigación parecen ser la caracterización de las manifestaciones de la dislexia en la edad adulta, seguidos de los estudios que se dirigen al esclarecimiento de las bases neurobiológicas. También se amplía la investigación hacia temas de orden práctico.

Academic Achievement of University Students with Dyslexia

Broadened recruitment to higher education is on the agenda in many countries, and it is also widely recognized that the number of dyslexic students entering higher education is increasing. In Sweden, as in many other European countries, higher education institutions are required to accommodate students with dyslexia. The present study focuses on the study outcome for 50 students with diagnosed dyslexia, mainly in teacher education and nurses' training, at three universities in Northern Sweden. The students trusted their own ability to find information on the Internet but mistrusted their own abilities in reading course books and articles in English and in taking notes. The mean rate of study was 23.5 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System credits per semester, which is slightly below the national baseline of 26.7. The results show that more than half of the students are examined at a normal rate of study but that about one fifth have a very low rate of study. Messages Most students with dyslexia can compensate for their reading problems. Taking notes during lessons and reading in foreign language may be especially difficult for students with dyslexia. Diagnoses should distinguish between reading comprehension and word decoding. More than half of the students with dyslexia can achieve at a normal rate of study. One-fifth of the students with dyslexia may need a longer period of study than other students.

Academic Attainment in Students with Dyslexia in Distance Education

This investigation studied attainment in students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties who were taking modules by distance learning with the Open University in 2012. Students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties who had no additional disabilities were just as likely as nondisabled students to complete their modules, but they were less likely to pass the modules that they had completed and less likely to obtain good grades on the modules that they had passed. Students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties who had additional disabilities were less likely to complete their modules, less likely to pass the modules that they had completed and less likely to obtain good grades on the modules that they had passed than were nondisabled students. Nevertheless, around 40% of students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties obtained good grades (i.e. those that would lead to a bachelor's degree with first-class or upper second-class honours).