Aim and Background: Processing speed plays an important role in specific learning disorder. Therefore, the aim of present study was to investigate the mediating role of processing speed in the relationship between working memory and phonological awareness with reading in students with reading disorder. Methods and Materials: The present study is a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population of this study included all students with specific learning disorder-reading from the end of the first grade to the fifth grade of elementary school in the seven districts of Mashhad and referring to special centers for learning disabilities in Mashhad in the academic year 2019-2020. The sample consisted of 150 students with specific learning disorder- reading who were selected by convenience sampling. To collect the data, reading and dyslexia test (NEMA), phonological awareness test (PAT) and The Wechsler intelligence scale for children, fourth edition (WISC-IV) were used. Research data were analyzed using PLS and SPSS statistical software as well as structural equation modeling. Findings: The findings showed that there is a relationship between working memory, phonological awareness, processing speed and reading of students with reading disorder. Processing speed mediated the relationship between working memory and reading of students with reading disorder. Also, processing speed mediated the relationship between phonological awareness and reading of students. Conclusions: The results showed that processing speed is mediated the relationship between working memory and phonological awareness with reading of students with reading disorders. Paying attention to these processes and the interventions related with them can help improve students' reading disorder.
Aim and Background:The aim of the research is to investigate the relationship between cognitive functions and reading literacy in fourth grade primary school students. Methods and Materials:The study method is descriptive-correlation. The statistical population includes all the male students of the fourth grade of primary school in Tehran who were studying in the academic year of 1402-1403, and 174 of them were purposefully selected as a sample. Reading literacy progress tests (Perles, 2016) and subtests from the fifth edition of the Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children (WISC-5) and the attention and concentration test IVA-2 were used for measurement. Findings: The Pearson correlation coefficient results showed that there is a positive relationship between the components of cognitive performance and literary and information literacy of fourth grade elementary school students. The results of regression analysis showed that conceptual thinking with standard beta coefficient (0.451) had the highest regression effect on students' literary reading literacy. In addition, conceptual thinking with a standard beta coefficient (0.456) had the highest regression effect on students' information literacy, and processing speed, active memory and attention after conceptual thinking had the highest regression effect on students' information literacy. Conclusions:By increasing the cognitive abilities of students, it becomes possible to perform multiple skills at the same time, and students with information literacy recognize the value of information in texts and have the ability to find and analyze information while reading and are able to understand the content. Evaluate information critically
