The eMaDys software aims to support the detection of students with possible learning problems. Following appropriate standardisation, evaluation, and possibly revision, successful application of the software will result in a recommendation for referral to specialised assessment personnel, for those students who need it.

The software implements an automated assessment of several skills of seventh-graders. The abilities required for successful completion of the tasks have been selected as possible indices of learning ability, emphasising elements of the typical dyslexic profile (specific learning disability in written language).

This software does not aim to provide an assessment of knowledge or ability based on the school curriculum, but to probe cognitive and perceptual skills that are related to specific learning impairments.

Eight component tests are included in the present version of the software, covering a wide range of skills that are related to language ability (oral and written):

1. Reading speed, measuring the speed of reading text with comprehension.
2. Spelling correction, assessing the ability to detect and correct spelling errors.
3. Tone detection, measuring backward auditory detection masking, with a corresponding baseline reference in the absence masking.
4. Frequency discrimination, measuring resolution in the frequency domain (taxing short-term memory for auditory representation).
5. Sequence repetition, measuring the ability to reproduce auditory stimulus sequences presented at a rapid rate, therefore their processing must be completed under time pressure.
6. Pseudoword repetition, measuring phonetic discrimination and phonological memory.
7. Image-word identification, measuring the ability to disambiguate orthographic representations on the basis of semantic and morphological information.
8. Letter span, measuring short-term memory for visual-verbal content.

The visual presentation of the tests has been kept as simple as possible, omitting any potentially distracting elements. Student actions are always restricted to the allowable interaction as defined by the script of each test. Use instructions are presented orally and not in written form, so as not to constitute an additional (and uncontrollable) factor of difficulty. For better understanding, verbal instructions are accompanied by visual display of the desired interaction. In order to maintain the attention of the user, an observing response method is applied, allowing for frequent rest.

The eMaDys software stores every use event in a log file. No names or other personal information of the students are stored in those files. The contents of the log files will have to be statistically analysed following a trial application, leading to the production of evaluation measures and an estimate of the reliability of the test. A user management application is provided, to create and maintain a database containing information about the students taking the tests. Finally, a server-upload application is also included, supporting centralised management and processing of the test administration data.

Contact person: Athanassios Protopapas