What does orthographic processing involve?

Orthographic processing involves the ability to recognize and manipulate the visual representation of written language, specifically in terms of spelling patterns. This includes forming an understanding of how letters combine to create words and the rules that govern these combinations. Successful orthographic processing enables individuals to effectively read and spell by helping them access the spelling of familiar words and apply patterns to new, unfamiliar words.

Understanding that orthographic processing specifically focuses on the visual aspects of language distinguishes it from other processes like semantic understanding, phonemic awareness, or syntactic arrangement, which focus on meaning, sound awareness, and grammatical structure, respectively. Thus, recognizing spelling patterns is central to successfully navigating written language, making it the key aspect of orthographic processing.