Lateral Dominance and Right-Left Discrimination: A Comparison of Normal and Retarded Readers

Abstract

The study examines relationships among lateral dominance, right-left discrimination, and reading retardation in lower socio-economic background public school children. Ss were: Group I, 56 male retarded readers, 9.5 to 12.3 yr. old; Group II, 28 boys and 7 girls, 10.3- to 12.0-yr.-old normal readers; Group III, 26 boys and 4 girls, retarded readers, not differing in age from Group II. There were no significant differences between the normal and retarded reading groups on the Harris Tests of Lateral Dominance or on the Benton Right-Left Discrimination Test own-body items. All groups had difficulty with the other-person items. Results indicate that laterality difficulties do not always accompany reading retardation in children 10 yr. and older.