Validity Assessment of a Low Level Phonological Processing Test Material in Preschool Children

Validity Assessment of a Low Level Phonological Processing Test Material in Preschool Children Background: The BISC (Bielefelder Screening) is a German test to evaluate phonological skills believed to be a prerequisite for future reading and writing skills. BISC results may indicate an elevated risk for dyslexia. Our research group has put forward test material in order to specifically examine low-level phonological processing LLPP. In this study we analysed whether BISC and low-level phonological processing correlate. Material and Methods: A retrospective correlation analysis was carried out on primary school children's test results of the BISC and the newly developed low-level phonological processing test material. Results: Spearman's rho was 0.52 between total LLPP and total BISC. The subscales correlated with a rho below 0.5. Conclusion: Results indicate that a low level phonological processing and higher level phonological processing can be differentiated. Future studies will have to clarify whether these results can be used to construct specifically targeting therapy strategies and whether the LLPP test material can be used to assess the risk of subsequent dyslexia also.