Development of Audio-Visual Learning Support System “Touch & Read”: How it Can Compensate the Reading Difficulties

Abstract

There are some children with reading difficulties in the regular class. They seem to have some problems in their perceptual or cognitive skills involved with reading process. In this study, we developed the multi-media learning support system “Touch & Read” for assisting their reading process. The system can zoom up the text, highlight the line in it, and read out it to present the information auditorily. Introducing this system to the regular class, we investigated the way of the learning support for the children with reading difficulties. Ahead of the introduction, we conducted the test to survey the children's decoding skills and visuoperceptual functions and identified the causes of reading difficulties. We provided the Touch & Read to children for their learning in the regular class, and observed how the children with reading difficulties used the system. As a result, it was suggested that children could use the system to compensate their perceptual or cognitive skills and achieve more efficient learning outcomes.