UNDATED - Imagine you are in a crowded restaurant, trying to have a conversation with a friend.
In such a situation, it can be difficult to distinguish your friend's voice from other noise in the room. That's the example researchers from Northwestern University use to explain how brains of dyslexic children process the voice of their teacher in a classroom setting.
Their study looked at typically developing students and children with developmental dyslexia, all with no hearing impairment.
They measured differences in how the two groups reacted to the sound of speech.
The study found when background noise, such as lockers slamming, or other children talking is present, the dyslexic children have difficulty focusing on the verbal message of their teacher, and separating it from the other sounds.
The study concludes children who have problems processing information in noisy backgrounds could benefit by being placed in front of the teacher, or using wireless technology to enhance the teacher's voice.
