Early identification of dyslexia and the use of computer game-based practice to support reading acquisition

The validity of early predictive measures of delayed reading acquisition is summarized on the basis of the Jyvaskyla Longitudinal study of Dyslexia (JLD). These results show that children in need of support can be identified years before school age. After a brief review of the literature on computer-based interventions, pilot data is reported on the effects of our computer game ‘Literate’ that has been specially developed for preventive training with children who are at risk of failing to acquire reading skill at a normal rate.