Kirshner‐Saroj Visual Perceptual Speed Test: A test of visual readiness for reading

Abstract

Gibson (1971) defined the reading process as involving several steps. 1Processing of the graphological features of letters. 2. Distinguishing orthographic regularities of letter combinations. 3. Phonological correlates of the letters. 4. Semantic and syntactic attributes of words. The first two processes are visual in nature and the Kirshner Saroj Speed of Visual Perception Test seeks to determine the efficiency of this process in terms of rate. The targets used are thirty-five pictures of the hand, the child simply tells how many fingers are seen in each hand, the second target is thirty-five arrows pointed in the four cardinal directions, the child must say whether they point right-left-up-down. Studies show that these tests distinguish between the normal and the retarded reader to the 001 level of confidence. The test is useful for the eye specialist who wishes to determine the effect of the eye measurements on the reading process and the reading teacher who wishes to determine whether her pupil must be referred for complete visual examination and visual training to remediate the reading problem. The test has been standardised on a normal school population in a mixed socioeconomic urban area in upper New York.