Persistence of literacy problems: spelling in adolescence and at mid-life.

Journal article

BACKGROUND: Developmental reading problems show strong persistence across the school years; less is known about poor readers' later progress in literacy skills. METHOD: Poor (n = 42) and normally developing readers (n = 86) tested in adolescence (ages 14/15 years) in the Isle of Wight epidemiological studies were re-contacted at mid-life (ages 44/45 years). Participants completed a spelling test, and reported on educational qualifications, perceived adult spelling competence, and problems in day-to-day literacy tasks. RESULTS: Individual differences in spelling were highly persistent across this 30-year follow-up, with correlations between spelling at ages 14 and 44 years of r = .91 (p < .001) for poor readers and r = .89 (p < .001) for normally developing readers. Poor readers' spelling remained markedly impaired at mid-life, with some evidence that they had fallen further behind over the follow-up period. Taking account of adolescent spelling levels, continued exposure to reading and literacy demands in adolescence and early adulthood was independently predictive of adult spelling in both samples; family social background added further to prediction among normally developing readers only. CONCLUSIONS: By adolescence, individual differences in spelling and its related sub-skills are highly stable. Encouraging young people with reading disabilities to maintain their exposure to reading and writing may be advantageous in the longer term.

Authors: Maughan, B; Messer, J; Collishaw, S; Pickles, A; Snowling, M

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 893-901
• Publication date: 2009-08-01
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02079.x
• EISSN: 1469-7610
• ISSN: 0021-9630
• Language: English
• Keywords: Child; Male; Educational Status; Mass Screening; Humans; Career Choice; Writing; Reading; Great Britain; Young Adult; Female; Dyslexia; Adult; Verbal Learning; Adolescent; Leisure Activities; Longitudinal Studies; Individuality; Middle Aged