[Assessment of word finding skills in the discourse of adolescents].

BACKGROUND

Relation between the abilities of word finding and reading.

AIM

Application of a word finding test to the discourse of two groups of adolescents which differed in their abilities to comprehend written texts.

METHOD

Application of the Test of Word Finding Discourse in 20 participants (group 1 = 10 e group II = 10).

RESULTS

There was no difference between the groups regarding the global word finding index; as for specific behaviors, word substitution was statistically significant and did differentiate the groups; as for the comparison with American standards, the use of unspecific words was statistically significant; the expected linear decrease for all of the behaviors was not observed.

CONCLUSION

A linear and reciprocal relation between word finding and difficulties in reading does not exist.