Mixed Deck — All CDT Topics Flashcards

In Shaywitz's research, which brain reading pathway is UNDERACTIVATED in readers with dyslexia during word recognition tasks?

Answer: The posterior left-hemisphere occipito-temporal 'word form area'

Shaywitz's neuroimaging studies show underactivation of the left occipito-temporal region (the 'word form area' or 'brain's letterbox') in dyslexic readers.

Which of the following background history factors is most relevant to include in a dyslexia assessment intake?

Answer: Family history of reading difficulties

Dyslexia has a strong genetic component, and a family history of reading difficulties is a significant risk factor to document.

Which of the following assessment domains is NOT typically included in a comprehensive dyslexia evaluation?

Answer: Gross motor coordination

While co-occurring motor issues may be noted, gross motor coordination is not a core domain assessed in a standard dyslexia evaluation.

Onset-rime awareness involves:

Answer: Recognizing that a syllable can be divided into its initial consonant(s) and the vowel-consonant unit that follows

Onset-rime awareness involves recognizing that syllables can be split into the onset (initial consonant or cluster) and the rime (the vowel and everything after it, e.g., 'c' + 'at' in 'cat').

A CDT working in a private practice setting should store physical student files in what manner?

Answer: In a locked file cabinet with access limited to authorized staff

Physical records must be stored in a locked, secure location with access restricted to authorized personnel to protect student confidentiality.

Which practice best supports both infection control and a welcoming therapy environment for students with dyslexia?

Answer: Maintaining clean, organized materials with a consistent between-session disinfection routine that students can observe

A visible, consistent cleaning routine maintains safety without making the environment feel clinical or unwelcoming to students.

Which is an example of multisensory instruction?

Answer: Tracing letters while saying their sounds out loud.

Multisensory instruction involves engaging several senses simultaneously to enhance learning. Tracing letters while saying their sounds out loud is a prime example, as it combines visual input (seeing the letter), auditory input (hearing the sound), and kinesthetic/tactile input (feeling the movement of tracing), reinforcing the letter-sound correspondence.

Which of the following BEST describes the role of decodable texts in a structured literacy program?

Answer: They provide controlled practice applying only the phonics patterns explicitly taught so far

Decodable texts are carefully controlled so that the vast majority of words use phonics patterns the student has already been explicitly taught, allowing successful application of decoding strategies.

How does the dorsal stream ('where/how' pathway) contribute to reading, distinct from the ventral stream?

Answer: The dorsal stream supports grapheme-phoneme conversion and attentional letter-by-letter processing

The dorsal stream (occipitoparietal) supports the attentional, analytical processing of print including grapheme-to-phoneme conversion, while the ventral stream handles automatic whole-word recognition.

Which aspect of reading does Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) most directly assess in a dyslexia screening context?

Answer: Processing speed and automaticity of symbol-sound retrieval

RAN measures how quickly a student can name a series of familiar items, reflecting processing speed and automatic retrieval—both implicated in dyslexia.

Which of the following is an example of an explicit phonics instruction technique used in structured literacy?

Answer: Directly teaching that the letter 'a' in a CVC word says /æ/

Explicit instruction means the teacher directly states the rule or correspondence without expecting the student to infer it — saying 'a in a closed syllable says /æ/' is explicit.

Which document formalizes the goals, services, and accommodations agreed upon by the school team and parents for a student with dyslexia?

Answer: IEP (Individualized Education Program)

The IEP is the legally binding document that outlines specific goals, services, accommodations, and parent consent under IDEA.

Which of the following is a therapeutic technique commonly used for dyslexia?

Answer: Multisensory techniques and reading programs.

Multisensory techniques and structured reading programs are commonly used for dyslexia because they engage multiple senses (sight, sound, touch, movement) simultaneously. This approach helps reinforce learning pathways in the brain, making it easier for students with dyslexia to connect sounds to letters, decode words, and improve reading fluency. These programs are often explicit, systematic, and cumulative.

A CDT explains to a teacher that a student's letter reversals (b/d) are NOT a vision problem. Which neurological explanation is MOST accurate?

Answer: The brain's orthographic memory has not yet formed stable, direction-specific representations for those graphemes

Letter reversals reflect incomplete orthographic memory formation, not vision problems; the brain has not yet established firm directional representations for similar-looking graphemes.

A CDT is planning a lesson on the 'silent-e' (VCe) syllable pattern. According to structured literacy principles, the FIRST step should be:

Answer: Reviewing and confirming mastery of the closed syllable pattern as a prerequisite

Before teaching VCe, students must have solid mastery of closed syllable/short vowel patterns so contrast instruction can be effective and meaningful.

Progress monitoring data shows a student's growth slope is significantly below the aim line after eight weeks of intervention. A CDT should FIRST:

Answer: Analyze error patterns and adjust intensity, frequency, or instructional approach

Data below the aim line signals the need to problem-solve by examining errors and modifying the intervention before considering referral.

Why is explicit instruction important in structured literacy?

Answer: It helps students understand language rules and apply them.

Explicit instruction is critical in structured literacy because students with dyslexia often do not implicitly grasp the rules of language and reading. By directly and clearly teaching phonics rules, spelling patterns, and other linguistic concepts, it helps students understand the underlying structure of language and apply these rules consistently to decode and encode words.

A therapist is designing a lesson on the 'magic e' (VCe) syllable pattern. Which activity best reinforces this concept?

Answer: Reading a decodable passage that mixes VCe and CVC words for contrast practice

Contrasting VCe and CVC words within decodable practice deepens understanding of how the final 'e' changes the vowel sound, a core principle of structured literacy.

Which early literacy skill assessed in kindergarten screening is the STRONGEST predictor of later reading difficulties?

Answer: Phoneme segmentation fluency

Phoneme segmentation fluency is one of the most robust early predictors of reading difficulties and future decoding ability.

Which assessment tool is most commonly used to evaluate a patient's functional status?

Answer: Standardized functional capacity scales

Standardized functional capacity scales provide objective, reproducible measurements of patient functional status that can be compared over time.