Development and standardization of a reading test for brain-damaged patients

We conducted 2 studies to assess the psychometric properties and clinical u tility of a reading test, the Iowa-Chapman Reading Test (ICRT), which was d eveloped as a means of measuring reading capacities in patients with brain damage. We first collected normative data from 101 adults, then applied the test to 145 patients with focal cortical brain damage. Forty-two patients performed defectively on the test, with impairments being evident in connec tion with a variety of different brain regions. Most important, nearly all (89%) of the 64 patients with lingering complaints of reading difficulties performed below expectations on the ICRT, despite generally normal performa nces on other standard reading tests. The results indicate that the ICRT pr ovides an economical and sensitive index of reading and in particular, chro nic subtle weaknesses in reading that are evident to the patient but not de tected by many conventional tests.