Comparison of reading speed with 3 different log-scaled reading charts.

BACKGROUND: A reading chart that resembles real reading conditions is important to evaluate the quality of life in terms of reading performance. The purpose of this study was to compare the reading speed of UiTM Malay related words (UiTM-Mrw) reading chart with MNread Acuity Chart and Colenbrander Reading Chart. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty subjects with normal sight were randomly recruited through randomized sampling in this study (mean age=22.98±1.65 years). Subjects were asked to read three different near charts aloud and as quickly as possible at random sequence. The charts were the UiTM-Mrw Reading Chart, MNread Acuity Chart and Colenbrander Reading Chart, respectively. The time taken to read each chart was recorded and any errors while reading were noted. Reading performance was quantified in terms of reading speed as words per minute (wpm). RESULTS: The mean reading speed for UiTM-Mrw Reading Chart, MNread Acuity Chart and Colenbrander Reading Chart was 200±30wpm, 196±28wpm and 194±31wpm, respectively. Comparison of reading speed between UiTM-Mrw Reading Chart and MNread Acuity Chart showed no significant difference (t=-0.73, p=0.72). The same happened with the reading speed between UiTM-Mrw Reading Chart and Colenbrander Reading Chart (t=-0.97, p=0.55). Bland and Altman plot showed good agreement between reading speed of UiTM-Mrw Reading Chart with MNread Acuity Chart with the Colenbrander Reading Chart. CONCLUSION: UiTM-Mrw Reading Chart in Malay language is highly comparable with standardized charts and can be used for evaluating reading speed.

Complejidad textual, lecturabilidad y rendimiento lector en una prueba de comprensión en escolares adolescentes / Textual Complexity, Readability and Reading Performance on a Comprehension Test in Adolescents School

En este artículo se estudia el problema de la lecturabilidad -la dificultad intrínseca de los textos para ser comprendidos- desde una perspectiva psicolingüística. El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer en qué medida la lecturabilidad de un texto depende no solo de sus propiedades estructurales (complejidad lingüística), sino también de las habilidades del lector y de la naturaleza de las tareas de comprensión. Se realizó una investigación de tipo cuasiexperimental en la que se construyeron dos pruebas de comprensión de lectura, manipulando la complejidad de los textos. Las pruebas incluyeron ítems para medir diversos aspectos de la comprensión según un modelo de evaluación basado en un enfoque teórico psicolingüístico. Las pruebas fueron aplicadas a 208 escolares de tres tipos de establecimientos educativos distintos. Los resultados de los análisis estadísticos de los datos permiten confirmar la hipótesis de que la lecturabilidad de los textos no depende solo de las propiedades textuales, sino de la relación de estas con las características de los lectores y las tareas de comprensión definidas en las pruebas.

In this paper, the problem of readability is studied from a psycholinguistic perspective. Readability is the intrinsic difficulty of texts to be understood. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent the readability of a text depends not only on its structural properties (linguistic complexity), but also the skills of the reader and the nature of comprehension tasks. An experimental research was carried out, in which two reading comprehension tests were developed by manipulating the complexity of texts. The tests included items to measure various aspects of comprehension according to an evaluation model based on a theoretical psycholinguistic approach. The tests were applied to 208 participants in three different types of schools. The results confirmed the hypothesis that the readability of texts depends not only on the textual properties, but also on the relationship of these with the readers' characteristics and the comprehension tasks defined in the tests.

Estudio de prevalência de dificultades de lectura en niños escolarizados de 7 años de Barranquilla (Colombia) / The prevalence of reading difficulties in 7-year old children in the city of Barranquilla (Colombia)

Este artículo muestra los resultados preliminares de una investigación en la que se establece el nivel de prevalencia de dificultades en la lectura en niños de siete años, pertenecientes a 4 colegios privados no bilingües de estrato socioeconómico medio alto de la ciudad de Barranquilla (Colombia). Para esta investigación se utilizaron el CEPA, WISC-R Abreviado, Evaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil (ENI). Se determinó que la prevalencia de dificultades de lectura en la población de estudio fue de 3.32%.

This article shows research preliminary results, in which the prevalence level of reading disabilities is established in 7-year old children belonging to 4 middle class private non-bilingual schools in the district of Barranquilla. The assessment tools used for this study were CEPA, Abbreviated WISC-R and ENI (Neuropsychological Children Evaluation). The reading disabilities prevalence level was determined to be, in this study, of 3.32%.