Does Fluency Depend on Practice or Attention?

Are medications used to treat attention disorders (ADD, ADHD) the answer for dyslexia? Shaywitz and Shaywitz (2008) explore in their article the studies in recent years that suggest that medications used to treat attention disorders may be effective to improving reading in dyslexic students.

This information evolved from neurological research of dyslexia. The findings showed that becoming skilled and automatic readers was difficult for children with dyslexia and that it was challenging to break through the fluency barrier. As researchers explored the cognitive processes involved in reading, they began to consider that disruption of attention mechanisms may play a role in reading difficulties. Studies showed that dyslexia and ADHD are frequently observed in the same individuals. 

The long-held view is that fluency comes from practice and is not dependent on attention. Now, the research shows that attention may be necessary for phonology and reading words aloud. Going a step further, preliminary studies indicate stimulants may be beneficial on reading for children with both ADHD and dyslexia. This acknowledgement opens the potential for additional study on the neurochemical mechanisms of reading, dyslexia and the relationship to ADHD.

Citation for article: 

Shaywitz, S., & Shaywitz, B. (2008). Paying attention to reading: The neurobiology of reading and  

        dyslexia. Development and Psychpathology, 20, 1329-1349.