A Correlation between Reading Fluency and Processing Speed in a Child Population

Author(s)

Lara Rifai, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Nisha Kajani, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Kayla Kotalik, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Ana Lopez, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Lisa K. Lashley, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Charles Golden, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

9-2021

Publication Title

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology

Volume

36

Issue/Number

6

ISSN

0887-6177

Abstract/Excerpt

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine whether a correlation exists between reading fluency in the WJ-IV ACH and processing speed in the WISC-V.

Method

The data for this study was derived from a large de-identified database. Participants (n = 90) included individuals who completed the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fifth Edition (WISC-V), which measures intellectual ability, and the Woodcock Johnson IV Tests of Achievement (WJ-IV ACH), which tests for reading, writing, and mathematic achievement. The participants consisted of 36.7% White, 20% Black, 31.1% Hispanic, and 12.2% Other. From the sample, 66.7% were male and 32.3% were female. All the participants were administered the WISC-V and WJ-IV ACH (mean age = 10.53, SD = 2.50; mean education = 4.6, SD = 2.47). Vocabulary was controlled for.

Results

The results indicated a significant correlation between the WJ-IV ACH Reading Fluency and the WISC-V Processing Speed Index r(87) = 0.326, p = 0.002.

Conclusions

Previous research has found that deficits in processing speed affect reading efficiency. Cognitive processes are affected even in children with ADHD who are able to decode words accurately. Processing speed, specifically Coding in the WISC-IV, was found to be significantly associated with verbal span and measures of working memory. Moreover, processing speed and working memory have been found to be significant predictors of oral reading fluency (Jacobson et al., 2011). The current findings confirm a correlation between processing speed and reading fluency in updated versions of the fore-mentioned assessments. Future research should investigate the role of comorbid diagnosis found in the functioning of both processing speed and reading fluency.

DOI

10.1093/arclin/acab062.160

NSUWorks Citation

Rifai, L., Kajani, N., Kotalik, K., Lopez, A., Lashley, L. K., Golden, C. (2021). A Correlation between Reading Fluency and Processing Speed in a Child Population. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 36(6).
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/1965