DYSLEXIA AND MUSICAL APTITUDE

Abstract

Some researchers believe music instruction may prove a beneficial intervention for dyslexia. The idea is bolstered by the existence of overlapping neural networks for music and language, studies in which musical training has had positive effects on reading in typically developing children, and studies on the effects of musical training on brain plasticity. The current study was designed to see if adults with a history of dyslexia find musical timing (rhythm and tempo) and rapid tasks more difficult than adults without a history of dyslexia and if performance on these tasks is associated with literacy-related skills. Participants completed two reading measures and a variety of musical aptitude tasks. Results showed the dyslexia group did not perform more poorly on the rhythm tasks. Results on the tempo tasks were mixed. The dyslexia group was more accurate and less consistent at tempo copying at most speeds. No significant group differences were found for the other tempo tasks or for any of the rapid perception tasks. Performance on some of the musical tasks correlated with reading scores. Overall, the results did not support the conclusion that individuals with dyslexia are impaired on musical tasks.