Backwardness in Reading: A Study of its Nature and Origin

Originally published in 1957, this book presents a comprehensive account of the factors involved in learning to read and the issues leading to children having difficulties in this area. The text begins by analysing what the child does during the learning process, discussing mistakes and difficulties at each point. Consideration is given to the relative importance of seeing and recognising shapes and their relationships, hearing and pronouncing sounds correctly, and understanding the meanings of words and their phonetic analysis. This leads to a study of the nature of ‘reading disability’ and its main environmental and innate causes. Methods of remedial teaching and strategies for improving reading are then covered. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the development of child psychology and the processes involved in learning to read.