Text Configuration and the Impact of Anxiety on Pupils with Dyslexia

The purpose of this study was on one hand to identify the configuration options in word processing that improve the reading ability and comprehension, and on the other hand to study the psychological impact of anxiety, a secondary consequence of dyslexia, in the process of reading and comprehension in two text formats, printed and electronic. Twenty dyslexic pupils took part in the study. The pupils were able to select colour combinations of their choice at the electronic text. Afterwards, they were evaluated by the use of three questionnaires on the effect of anxiety, the Trait Anxiety, the State Anxiety and the Test Anxiety before each text, so as to measure the effect of anxiety on reading. The results indicated an improvement of reading comprehension in electronic over printed text, related to a preference of pupils in low luminance screen background. State Anxiety was decreased after using the electronic text, while Test Anxiety was almost the same on both testing forms.