What does the orthographic processor do in the context of reading?

The orthographic processor plays a crucial role in the reading process by accessing and interpreting visual information from print. This involves recognizing letters and their arrangements, which allows readers to mentally map the visual form of words to their meanings. The orthographic processor helps ensure that when readers see a word, they can quickly identify its spelling and how it typically appears in print, facilitating smooth reading and comprehension. This function is essential in developing fluent reading skills, as it enables readers to efficiently recognize familiar words and to assist in the decoding process of new or less familiar terms.