Prediction of the reading and spelling performances of normal and retarded readers: A four-year follow-up

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative predictive accuracy of a number of measures employed in a 4-year longitudinal study of the neuropsychological abilities of normal and retarded readers. The results indicated that there were some very accurate predictive measures of reading and spelling achievement levels over the 4-year age span studied, and that the relative accuracy of these measures differed markedly for normal and retarded readers. Especially in the case of retarded readers, performance on the Underlining Test was a much more accurate predictor of eventual achievement levels in reading and spelling than were tests of reading, spelling, or psychometric intelligence.This investigation was supported in part under Grant #195 of the Ontario Mental Health Foundation, funds provided by the Research Division, Windsor Western Hospital Centre, and funds from the Ontario Department of Education Grants-in-Aid of Educational Research and Development program. Dr. M. W. Starr offered advice regarding the statistical design.