The relationship between specific reading retardation, general reading backwardness and behavioural problems in a...

Parent and teacher reports of behaviour problems were obtained at ages 5, 7, 9 and 11 years for three groups of boys: specific reading retarded (N = 18), general reading backward (N = 22), and those with no severe reading disability (N = 436). At school entry, both groups of reading disabled boys were reported as having more behaviour problems, and the level of problems increased during their early school years. The results suggest that behaviour problems pre-date reading disability, while reading failure further exacerbates the existing problem behaviour.