[The "Lector"--a testing method to determine verbal educational level]

Assessment of the educational level is important to prevent false neuropsychological diagnostic decisions. In the German-speaking countries some instruments for this assessment already exist, but there are problems involved in the practical application. There still is no reading test, which is a common standard in international neuropsychological test batteries. The lector investigates how subjects read rare German words or foreign words used in German-speaking countries. Words were selected which are pronounced differently from German pronunciation rules. A subject who does not know the word will pronounce it false, i.e., according to the German pronunciation rule. Norms (percentiles), estimation of reliability, and first data about validity were calculated from three samples with a total of 503 subjects. On the basis of the data presented, the Lector Test can be used as a control variable in research with groups as well as in neuropsychological diagnostics.