Catch Them Before They Fall

The challenge of mastering reading is universally seen across all populations and languages. A small fraction of studentsall over the world, however, fail in learning to read proficiently. Early assessments can help children who are likely to getinto the vicious circle of failure in mastering word reading, leading to poor academic performance and eventually to lowmotivation in academics and possible lifelong socioeconomic and mental health consequences. In languages such as English,there are quite a few tests available for early assessment and interventions. In India, a multilingual society, all children goingto school learn to read at least in three languages, including English. Dearth of suitable assessment tools in local languages isa major impediment in clinical services and research. Here, we report an attempt at developing a quick and reliable test forassessment of decoding and sight-word reading skills in Kannada language