The early identification of language based reading disabilities

Research and clinical practice clearly demonstrated that many reading disabilities are language-based. Because the language deficits associated with reading disabilities are often present during the preschool years, these deficits can serve as early indicators of risk for reading disabilities. This exchange briefly reviews the language basis of reading disabilities and provides a checklist of language deficits frequently associated with reading disabilities. It is intended that this checklist be used by professionals for early identification of reading disabilities.