Download I Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) They affect 5-15% of the global population (APA, 2013), with dyslexia being one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders (MIUR, 2024). They can have significant repercussions on school adjustment and psychological well-being, influencing not only performance but also the emotional health of individuals (Scorza et al., 2018a).
Children with learning disabilities are more exposed to negative school experiences, high levels of stress, and the risk of dropping out, with possible consequences for their subsequent achievement of social and occupational opportunities. These difficulties can persist into adulthood, impacting their Quality of Life overall (Scorza et al., 2018b).
Early identification, through screening programs, represents an important protective factor (Lombardi et al., 2021). If properly implemented, it allows for the identification of potential vulnerabilities in the early stages of learning, promoting timely access to targeted and more effective interventions, with positive effects on school adjustment and psychological well-being.
ROAR (Rapid Online Assessment Reading) It is an innovative, free online tool for screening reading skills (Yeatman et al., 2021), developed with the aim of integrating some fundamental characteristics for an effective assessment tool: reliability, speed, cost-effectiveness and ease of administration.
This thesis aims to contribute to the ongoing Italian validation process of the instrument. The results of the descriptive analyses and linear regressions were obtained by comparing two groups, consisting of a total of 13 children, with different levels of decoding ability.
The results, although preliminary, support the hypothesis of the ROAR's validity. In conclusion, the Italian adaptation of the instrument appears promising and could bring significant advantages to screening programs for learning disabilities. Furthermore, continued validation in different languages could help address a growing need in contemporary school contexts: managing the growing presence of multilingualism.