An open randomized controlled trial of the effects of linguistic simplification and mediation on the comprehension of “easy read” text by people with intellectual disabilities

Buell, Susan, Langdon, Peter, Pounds, Gabrina and Bunning, Karen (2020) An open randomized controlled trial of the effects of linguistic simplification and mediation on the comprehension of “easy read” text by people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 32 (2). pp. 219-231. ISSN 1360-2322

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Abstract

Background: This trial aimed to measure the effects of extrinsic and intrinsic factors on users’ comprehension of health information provided in adapted written ‘easy read’ material. Method: Sixty adults with intellectual disabilities undertook The Easy Read Task, randomly allocated with stratification by reading ability to one of four conditions (with and without simplified language/ with and without mediation). Results: Neither linguistic complexity of the text nor mediation independently or combined made a significant difference to the understanding of information. Posthoc testing revealed that the group who received simplified language with mediation performed significantly better than the group that had complex text with mediation. None of the other differences between the remaining groups were significant. Conclusions: Constructing meaning needs to extend beyond a consideration of form as found in ‘easy read’ documents to recognise the role of individual capacity for language processing.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	easy read, intellectual disabilities, language, understanding, health, reasonable adjustments,intellectual disabilities,easy read,reasonable adjustments,health,understanding,language,services,adults,readability,children,students,challenge,accessible information,ability,working-memory,education,developmental and educational psychology ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3304
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies (former - to 2024) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Migration Research Network Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Language and Communication Studies Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Rehabilitation Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Mental Health and Social Care (fka Lifespan Health)
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	24 Sep 2019 10:30
Last Modified:	14 Aug 2025 00:49
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/72356
DOI:	10.1111/jar.12666

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