Katherine Hall
RESEARCH SUBJECT AND INTERESTS
Children diagnosed with reading difficulties often experience difficulties in language, fulfilling the criteria for both dyslexia and language impairment. Overlapping verbal difficulties in both disorders such as identifying speech sounds can make diagnosis and intervention difficult.
My PhD project compares underlying skills such as memory and attention in both disorders. We have found that children with language impairment show difficulty in ignoring irrelevant verbal information and irrelevant non-verbal information. In contrast, children with dyslexia experience problems in ignoring irrelevant verbal information only. By investigating further differences in verbal and non-verbal skills in both disorders, we will inform more targeted intervention.
BIOGRAPHY
Katherine Hall completed her BSc in Psychology at the University of Warwick in the summer of 2013. At the same time she was awarded a departmental scholarship which allowed her to continue her studies at Warwick and begin a PhD project under the supervision of Dr Julia Carroll and Dr Helen Breadmore.
In addition to completing her PhD, Katherine was able to gain experience completing research assistance work during this time. After one year, she and her supervisors moved to Coventry University to join their expanding literacy group and to date is continuing her PhD.
