Wider recognition in peripheral vision common to different subtypes of dyslexia

Italian children (n = 125) were classified into dyslexics, poor readers and ordinary readers. The dyslexics were further classified into the Boder and Bakker subtypes. The children were tested with the form-resolving field (FRF), which measures central and peripheral visual recognition. Dyslexics show higher correct identification of letters in the periphery, supporting the notion of a different distribution of lateral masking. A numerical characterization of individual FRFs-C2R-reliably distinguishes between dyslexics and ordinary readers. The wider distribution of recognition, similar across the various subtypes of dyslexia, suggests a general characteristic of visual perception, and possibly a different visual-attentional mode. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.