Language lateralization in specific reading retarded children and backward readers.

In this study, language lateralization in subgroups of disabled readers was investigated using a dichotic monitoring task. The Rutter and Yule classification of specific reading retarded and backward reading groups was used to obtain subgroups of 10 to 12 year old boys with reading difficulties. No abnormalities of language lateralization were shown in either group when compared with controls; all showed the usual right ear advantage on this task. Furthermore neither of the reading disabled groups showed any deficiency in the ability to divide and sustain their attention to the task as shown by a signal detection analysis and comparison of performance over time. It can be claimed with some confidence that in a highly structured task of this nature reading disabled children show no abnormalities in either laterality or attentional processes.