Differences in reading achievement between spina bifida children attending normal schools and those attending special...

This paper reports the reading scores measured on Neale's Analysis of Reading Ability of a series of 55 spina bifida children, some of whom attended normal schools and the remainder attended special schools and matched controls. A multiple regression equation was used to compare observed scores with the expected scores. The children receiving a normal school education were reading up to the level expected from their intelligence test scores, but the children in special schools had significant differences between observed and expected scores. The discrepancies may be accounted for by more profound physical handicap among the special school children but teachers' expectations may also be important in influencing reading achievement.