Multiple oral rereading technique in rehabilitation of pure alexia

Abstract

Abstract Three pure alexic patients were given reading practice with the multiple oral re-reading (MOR) technique (Moyer 1979). All patients read single words relatively fast, but differed from each other in the reading speed of texts. In addition, two of the patients (HT and TT) had no significant memory or visuospatial deficit whereas one patient (PA) exhibited severe memory and visuospatial problems. The results showed in HT and TT a notable increase in reading speed of texts after therapy when compared to baseline measures. In relationship to text reading, single word reading became significantly faster only in patient HT. Patient PA did not benefit from MOR. The difference in the recovery of word reading versus text reading suggests that MOR does not primarily affect the functioning of the damaged word-form system. Instead, the increase in reading speed may be attributed to top-down processes, which facilitate the recognition of words in a sentence frame. Furthermore, it is suggested that this kind o...