Which type of readers benefit from the nonlexical path in Dual Route Theory?

The nonlexical path in Dual Route Theory is particularly beneficial for readers who struggle with both regular and irregular words. This pathway relies heavily on phonological processing, enabling readers to decode words based on their spelling patterns and phonetic components without needing to access them from memory.

Readers who face challenges in recognizing sight words or have difficulty with phonemic awareness often use this route to decode unfamiliar or complex words. The nonlexical route thus serves as a crucial compensatory mechanism, allowing these readers to develop their reading skills and improve their overall decoding ability. This is especially important for those who might not yet have strong phonics skills, as they may depend more on this phonological decoding strategy, which does not require them to already know the words.

In contrast, readers with advanced phonics skills or those focused primarily on comprehension are less likely to rely solely on the nonlexical path, as they can often recognize words quickly and read for meaning. Similarly, readers aiming for faster reading speeds may employ more efficient strategies that do not necessitate the use of the nonlexical path at all.