Reading disability is characterized by reduced print–speech convergence

Abstract

Reading disability (RD) may be characterized by reduced print–speech convergence, which is the extent to which neurocognitive processes for reading and hearing words overlap. We examined how print–speech convergence changes from children (mean age: 11.07+0.48) to adults (mean age: 21.33+1.80) in 86 readers with or without RD. The participants were recruited in elementary schools and associate degree colleges in China (from 2020 to 2021). Three patterns of abnormalities were revealed: (1) persistent reduction of print–speech convergence in the left inferior parietal cortex in both children and adults with RD, suggesting a neural signature of RD; (2) reduction of print–speech convergence in the left inferior frontal gyrus only evident in children but not adults with RD, suggesting a developmental delay; and (3) increased print–speech convergence in adults with RD than typical adults in the bilateral cerebella/fusiform, suggesting compensations. It provides insights into developmental differences in brain functional abnormalities in RD.