First Digital Adult Reading Test Available on RuStore
HSE University's Centre for Language and Brain has developed the first standardised tool for assessing Russian reading skills in adults—the LexiMetr-A test. The test is now available digitally on the RuStore platform. This application allows for a quick and effective diagnosis of reading disorders, including dyslexia, in people aged 18 and older.
Reading skills are essential for a social and professional life. For millions of adults with reading impairments, the lack of a timely diagnosis can mean inaccessibility to quality education, career opportunities, and social support. However, for adults in Russia, there was no reliable tool or standard for objectively measuring reading proficiency or comparing results with normative data. The LexiMetr-A digital test fills this gap, offering professionals and researchers an effective way to assess the speed and accuracy of reading, as well as the level of reading comprehension.
Svetlana Dorofeeva
‘The development of LexiMetr-A was a logical consequence of our efforts to create linguistics-based tests for diagnosing speech and reading disorders in children. Adults with reading impairments also need age-appropriate tools,’ says Svetlana Dorofeeva, one of test developers and researcher at HSE University's Centre for Language and Brain.
The test has two parallel versions, one for initial diagnostics and the other for retesting or for assessing the effectiveness of interventions. The versions are balanced in terms of a number of psycholinguistic parameters, such as the length of words in syllables and in letters, the frequency of words, and the complexity of syntactic structures. Each text comes with a set of reading comprehension questions. After reading and marking errors, the application automatically calculates reading parameters and provides information about which syntactic structures were the most difficult. This level of detail is particularly useful for planning remedial work.
The application is aimed at specialists: speech therapists, neuropsychologists, and neurologists working in clinics, educational and research institutions. It includes age-appropriate cutoff levels for different user groups from 18 to 60+ years old, which ensures high diagnostic accuracy. The app replaces paper protocols, manual error counting, and voice recorders. All stages of the test—from text demonstration to error analysis—take place in a digital interface. The results, including audio recordings and markings, are uploaded in a useful format, making it easier to observe and draw conclusions.
The tool will enable informed decisions for selecting a future approach to working with reading difficulties or supporting adults with dyslexia. For instance, a confirmed dyslexia diagnosis could be taken into account by universities when determining a specific assessment system for students with such difficulties.
The developers emphasise that the test will be useful in both clinical and scientific application. The new tool collects an array of audio data and reading indicators, making it a valuable research tool for cognitive linguistics, psycholinguistics, and neuropsychology.
Olga Dragoy
‘Our goal is to make reading diagnostics more accessible and up-to-date. LexiMetr-A is not just a test; it is a practical tool that saves time, provides accurate results, and opens up new possibilities for helping people with dyslexia,’ comments Olga Dragoy, Director of the Centre for Language and Brain, HSE University.
See also:
Researchers Examine Student Care Culture in Small Russian Universities
Researchers from the HSE Institute of Education conducted a sociological study at four small, non-selective universities and revealed, based on 135 interviews, the dual nature of student care at such institutions: a combination of genuine support with continuous supervision, reminiscent of parental care. This study offers the first in-depth look at how formal and informal student care practices are intertwined in the post-Soviet educational context. The study has been published in the British Journal of Sociology of Education.
AI Can Predict Student Academic Performance Based on Social Media Subscriptions
A team of Russian researchers, including scientists from HSE University, used AI to analyse 4,500 students’ subscriptions to VK social media communities. The study found that algorithms can accurately identify both high-performing students and those struggling with their studies. The paper has been published in IEEE Access.
HSE Scientists: Social Cues in News Interfaces Build Online Trust
Researchers from the HSE Laboratory for Cognitive Psychology of Digital Interface Users have discovered how social cues in the design of news websites—such as reader comments, the number of reposts, or the author’s name—can help build user trust. An experiment with 137 volunteers showed that such interface elements make a website appear more trustworthy and persuasive to users, with the strongest cue being links to the media’s social networks. The study's findings have been published in Human-Computer Interaction.
Updated Facts and Figures and Dashboards Now Available on HSE Website
The HSE Office of Analytics and Data Management, together with the Visual Communications Unit, has developed a new Facts and Figures about HSE University page on the HSE website. In addition, all university staff now have access to a dashboard with the updated indicators of the Priority 2030 programme.
Immune System Error: How Antibodies in Multiple Sclerosis Mistake Their Targets
Researchers at HSE University and the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBCh RAS) have studied how the immune system functions in multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease in which the body's own antibodies attack its nerve fibres. By comparing blood samples from MS patients and healthy individuals, scientists have discovered that the immune system in MS patients can mistake viral proteins for those of nerve cells. Several key proteins have also been identified that could serve as new biomarkers for the disease and aid in its diagnosis. The study has been published in Frontiers in Immunology. The research was conducted with support from the Russian Science Foundation.
HSE to Entrust Routine CPD Programme Development to AI
HSE University, together with the EdTech company CDO Global, is launching AI-based constructors to streamline the design of continuing professional development (CPD) courses. The new service will automate the preparation of teaching materials and assessment tools, significantly reducing the time and resources required of lecturers and instructional designers.
‘Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030’ Forum-Festival to Feature Innovative Projects from HSE Graduates
Until September 14, 2025, the Russian capital is hosting a large-scale forum-festival called ‘Territory of the Future: Moscow 2030’ —a space for technology, science, and innovation. This event showcases cutting-edge developments in medicine, astronautics, and the digital economy. HSE Art and Design School is participating in the festival with two graduate projects in Product and Industrial Design.
‘The Goal of Modern Geography Is To Digitise Expert Knowledge and Integrate It with Big Data’
The importance of geographical science is increasing, as is the demand for education in this field. Since 2020, application numbers for Bachelor’s programmes at HSE University’s Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technology have climbed by 30%, while interest in Master’s programmes has also expanded, with applications up 10–15%. Nikolay Kurichev, Dean of the Faculty, spoke about this at a press conference hosted by MIA Rossiya Segodnya.
HSE Shares Its Experience of Urban Strategies at International Summer School in China
In the context of intensifying global geopolitical and technological competition, leading Chinese educational institutions—Zhejiang International Studies University and Peking University—organised an International Summer School. Their joint programme focused on studying global, regional, and urban development strategies. The HSE Faculty of Urban and Regional Development took part in this event.
Scientists Develop Effective Microlasers as Small as a Speck of Dust
Researchers at HSE University–St Petersburg have discovered a way to create effective microlasers with diameters as small as 5 to 8 micrometres. They operate at room temperature, require no cooling, and can be integrated into microchips. The scientists relied on the whispering gallery effect to trap light and used buffer layers to reduce energy leakage and stress. This approach holds promise for integrating lasers into microchips, sensors, and quantum technologies. The study has been published in Technical Physics Letters.