Catch them before they fall - a simple test of sight-word and pseudo-word reading in Kannada for a quick and early assessment

Abstract

The challenge of mastering reading is universally seen across all populations and languages. A small fraction of students all over the world, however, fail in learning to read proficiently. Early assessments can help children who are likely to get into the vicious circle of failure in mastering word reading, leading to poor academic performance and eventually to low motivation in academics and possible lifelong socioeconomic and mental health consequences. In languages such as English, there are quite a few tests available for early assessment and interventions. In India, a multilingual society, all children going to school learn to read at least in three languages, including English. Dearth of suitable assessment tools in local languages is a major impediment in clinical services and research. Here, we report an attempt at developing a quick and reliable test for assessment of decoding and sight-word reading skills in Kannada language.