title: Measurement of reading speed with standardized texts: a comparison of single sentences and paragraphs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the influence of text length (single sentence versus a paragraph of several sentences) on the repeatability of reading speed measurements in normal-sighted subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared reading speeds for the German versions of the Radner charts (single sentences of 14 words each) and the International Reading Speed Texts (IReST) charts (paragraphs, on average 132 words) in 30 normal-sighted elderly subjects aged 51-81 years (mean 64.5 years ± 7.2 SD). Three texts each of both lengths were read aloud in random order. The influence of text length (single sentence or paragraph) and text sample (each single text) on reading speed was calculated by a regression model and Bland-Altman analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean reading speed (words per minute) showed no significant difference for single sentences (170 wpm ± 33 SD) and paragraphs (167 wpm ±31 SD). Differences in reading speeds within one type of reading material were higher between single sentences than between paragraphs. Correlation coefficients between speeds were higher for paragraphs (r = 0.96-0.98) than for single sentences (r = 0.69-0.78). Variations between reading speeds for three texts of each length were markedly lower for paragraphs than for single sentences: (median, interquartile range [IQR]): 6.7, IQR 13.9; 3.0, IQR 8.3; -2.0, IQR 9.7 versus -8.8, IQR 29.6; 15.6, IQR 29.4; 22.7, IQR 19.4, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since reading speeds assessed with paragraphs show lower variance among texts than those for single sentences, they are better suited for repeated measurements, especially for long-term monitoring of the course of reading performance and for assessing effects of interventions in subjects with reading disorders.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ophthalmology, Low Vision Clinic, University of Tuebingen, Schleichstrasse 12, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany, elke.altpeter@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Elke Karin
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Altpeter
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: Nhung Xuan
authors.initials: NX
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trauzettel-Klosinski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011932:Reading; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D014825:Vocabulary