Sequential processing deficits in reading retardation

Doehring (1968) hypothesized that a basic sequential processing deficit underlies specific reading disability. To investigate sequential processing deficits in reading retardation, four tasks involving the reproduction of stimuli in a particular sequence were administered to a group of retarded readers and a group of normal readers matched on age, sex, race, educational opportunity, sociocultural environment, and Non-Language IQ on the CTMM. The normal readers were significantly superior to the retarded readers on the four sequential processing tasks and on two other tests, vocabulary and rhyming. The two groups did not differ significantly on reversals discrimination, perceptual speed, or cumulative learning. These results clearly support the hypothesis that retarded readers are basically deficient in ability to process sequences. Procedures and results of clinical studies were compared with those of the present junior high school study. Similarities and differences of retarded readers in clinical settings and retarded readers participating as Ss in this study were delineated and discussed