Relationship between scholastic and health behaviors and reading level in adolescent females

This was a study of 102 adolescent females, 12-20 years of age, presenting to a central city clinic for medical care. Participants completed an oral questionnaire that included demographics, and questions regarding scholastic history, sexual behavior, and substance use. Each subject completed the Accuracy Level Test (ALT), a reading test. The subject's reading test grade level was subtracted from her appropriate grade in school to give a reading delay level (RDL). The mean reading grade level for all subjects was 6.7 +/- 2.6 and the average reading delay was 4.5 +/- 2.5 grades. Poor school attenders had greater reading delays (5.8 +/- 3.4 grades behind vs. 4.3 +/- 2.2 for good attenders p < 0.04), and those who repeated grades were also significantly delayed (5.5 +/- 2.4 grades behind vs. 3.7 +/- 2.3, p < 0.0007). Previously pregnant students had a greater delay in reading level than their nonpregnant peers (5.2 +/- 2.3 vs. 3.9 +/- 2.5 respectively p < 0.01). Delayed reading levels appear to correlate with some risk behaviors. The ALT may serve as a tool to identify high-risk patients who need more intensive clinical intervention.