Educational Materials: Tachistoscopic Training as a Supplement to Reading Instruction for Educable Mentally Retarded Children

Abstract

The tachistoscope is described and a rationale for its use in a reading instruction program for educable mentally retarded children is proposed. Brief guidelines for its use are also listed. This article reports the results of a study in which a group of intermediate age and a group of secondary school age educable mentally retarded children showed significant reading gains following a training program in which the tachistoscope was used as a supplement to conventional reading instruction. Two contrast groups of children who did not receive tachistoscopic training did not make significant gains during the same period of time. It was concluded that the tachistoscope is a useful supplement to reading instruction for the educable mentally retarded.