Visual attention span deficit in developmental dyslexia: A meta-analysis

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities Vol. 141; p. 104590
• Main Authors: Tang, Jiuqing, Ma, Xue’er, Peng, Peng, Cha, Kelina, Yao, Yu’e, Zhao, Jingjing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Dyslexia; Meta-analysis; Visual attention span; Writing system; Visual attention span; Dyslexia; Writing system; Meta-analysis
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104590

Visual attention span (VAS) refers to the number of visual elements processed simultaneously in a multielement array. Yet, there are mixed findings regarding VAS deficit in developmental dyslexia (DD) across different tasks, stimuli, languages, control groups, and ages. The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate VAS deficit in DD and factors moderating VAS deficit in DD. A meta-analysis based on 32 articles, 54 independent studies, and 4211 subjects was conducted. Effect sizes for each study were calculated and a random-effect model was selected. Task and stimulus types in the VAS task, writing system, orthographic depth, control group type, and age were included as possible moderators. 1) VAS in dyslexic individuals was significantly worse than typically developing individuals; 2) Task-stimulus type (report-verbal/n-back-verbal/n-back-nonverbal), writing system (alphabetic vs. Chinese), and control group type (age matched vs. reading matched) significantly moderated VAS deficit in DD. VAS deficit was more severe in report task with verbal stimuli than in n-back task with verbal and nonverbal stimuli. VAS deficit was more severe in alphabetic language than in Chinese. VAS deficit was more severe when compared with age-matched controls than compared with reading-matched controls. VAS deficit is a possible etiology for DD and moderated by task-stimulus type, writing system, and control group type. These findings have important implications for the understanding of DD. •Meta-analysis including 54 studies and 4211 subjects revealed VAS deficits in DD compared with typically developing controls.•Task-stimulus type, writing system, and control group type were significant moderators for VAS deficits in DD.•Larger VAS deficits were found in verbal stimuli based on report task than verbal and non-verbal stimuli based on n-back task, alphabetic languages than Chinese, and age matched controls than reading matched controls.