Traditionally, a great deal of significance has been assigned to reversal errors in reading and writing. These errors are commonly attributed to perceptual difficulties that reflect neurological immaturity or deficiency. This article takes the position that reversals are not caused by perceptual defects but often result from the child's inexperience with directionality as a salient feature in making discriminations, and with proper instruction, even 4 and 5 year olds can learn to distinguish between reversible letters. This view is supported by a review of relevant research. Guidelines for diagnosis and instruction are presented.
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