Job description

My subjects cover topics such as dyslexia, developmental language disorders (DLD), reading comprehension difficulties, and interventions for handling reading and language difficulties. Students who take these subjects are updated with the latest research, so they are better equipped to implement research-based methods in their teaching and support for children, young people, and adults with learning challenges.

My research interests are particularly centred around developmental language disorders and dyslexia. I am keen to discover what underlies these cognitive-linguistic conditions by exploring their characteristics and origins. An important part of my work involves examining reading-related cognitive difficulties and the complex interplay between language skills and reading abilities.

I am proud to have developed innovative tools for screening and diagnosing dyslexia that enable the identification and assessment of reading and writing difficulties, as well as their underlying cognitive-linguistic skills, across ages from 5 to 90 years.

Currently, I am leading a major randomised controlled trial. The overarching goal is to contribute to evidence-based research on how we can better target interventions for children and young people struggling with decoding and reading comprehension.

Through my research and teaching, I aim to provide valuable insights into the fields of educational psychology and special needs education. My goal is to equip future special needs teachers, speech therapists, psychologists, and educators with the knowledge and tools they need to offer the best possible support to individuals with language disorders and dyslexia.

Note: My author name is Trude Nergård-Nilssen (with a hyphen).