Dyslexia Explorer: A Screening System for Learning Difficulties in the Arabic Language Using Eye Tracking

Abstract

Dyslexia is a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) that affects an individual’s ability to process, store, and retrieve information. This consequently affects the educational development of children with dyslexia. Early diagnosis for people with dyslexia is important to assist them in the critical stages of learning. Research examining visual reading patterns in people with SpLDs has suggested that the readers’ eye movements reflect the information processing difficulties that they experience. Visual reading patterns can be analyzed for screening purposes; eye tracking technology plays an essential role in this aspect. Research suggest that cognitive processing in reading Arabic demands stronger visual spatial processing abilities related to the nature of the Arabic language. This paper describes a screening system for people with dyslexia based on reading patterns of Arabic scripts using eye-tracking technology. The system records visual reading patterns in reading and provides objective measures of visual attention for SpLD specialists and practitioners to gain insights into the information processing difficulties and for them to design remedial plans for the individual.