The Problem of Axial Rotation in Reading Disability

Abstract

The problem of axial rotations in reading was investigated by the use of the Lamb Chop Test. Comparisons of reading readiness scores, levels of reading achievement, and scores on the Lamb Chop Test for first and third grade Ss indicate significant association between these factors and incidence of rotational errors. Frequency of rotational errors was not found to be greater among left-handed than among right-handed Ss. Analysis of types of rotational errors showed a decrease in both vertical and depth rotations when data for first and third grade samples were compared. The persistence of horizontal rotations among poorer readers in the third grade suggests that (1) the hitherto predominant emphasis upon vertical (Left-Right) rotations may have been misplaced and (2) consideration of all types of axial rotations, rather than any single one, is necessary in the diagnosis of reading disability.

The Incidence and Nature of Letter Orientation Errors in Reading Disability

“…These outcomes are consistent with previous research showing lower sensitivity to the orientation of nonalphabetic material by children with reading disability (e.g., Doehring, 1968;Goins, 1958;Wechsler & Hagin, 1964). Although item reversibility affected the performance of both groups, it did not distinguish between groups by error frequency and detectability scores.…”

“…The relatively high error rates, increased response latency, and lower sensitivity in detecting items in modified orientation in the reception tasks by the reading disability group provide evidence that children with reading disability have problems detecting and recognizing items on the basis of orientation. These outcomes are consistent with previous research showing lower sensitivity to the orientation of nonalphabetic material by children with reading disability (e.g., Doehring, 1968;Goins, 1958;Wechsler & Hagin, 1964). Although item reversibility af-fected the performance of both groups, it did not distinguish between groups by error frequency and detectability scores.…”

Perception and memory of orientation of forms by young readers

“…This interpretation has gained support from reports (Lovell, Shapton, & Warren, 1964;Lyle, 1969;Shepherd, 1956;Vernon, 1957;Wechsler & Hagin, 1964) claiming that the tendency of children with reading problems to rotate and to reverse letters while reading is associated with a concomitant defect in the discrimination and memory of the spatial orientation of other forms. However, in order to substantiate the notion that the same cognitive process underlies both…”

The Development of Recognition Memory for the Left-Right Orientation of Pictures

“…Thus young children make more errors on orientation discrimination tasks which require memory than on similar ones which do not (e.g., Bryant 1973;Wechsler & Hagin 1964), and the ability to remember orientation improves with age. Thus young children make more errors on orientation discrimination tasks which require memory than on similar ones which do not (e.g., Bryant 1973;Wechsler & Hagin 1964), and the ability to remember orientation improves with age.…”