Effect of Auxiliary Acoustic Stimulation on Two-Flash Fusion Thresholds of Reading Disabled Children: A Study Using Nitrazepam

Abstract

A study of the effects of selected physical properties of acoustic stimulation on Two-flash Threshold (TFT) of dyslexic children on individually established dosages of active drug (Nitrazepam) or placebo, and non-problem readers (Normals) on placebo ( ns = 8). Auxiliary acoustic stimulation (1000-cps tone) was applied following determination of basic TFT, with Onset, Intensity and Duration of tone each varied at two levels. Analyses of variance yielded significant main effects for Groups and Onset (effect significant between the two dyslexic groups only) and a significant Groups × Onset × Duration interaction. The hypothesis of greater acuity (lower TFT) in the active drug group than in the placebo group of dyslexics was supported. The significant second-order interaction is interpreted in terms of (a) facilitation of response in the active drug group, produced by the action of Nitrazepam on systems mediating attention; (b) the differential alerting and distracting effects in the untreated dyslexics produced by the various combined conditions of auxiliary stimulation.