The Relationship of Visual Closure to Speechreading

This study investigated the relationship of visual closure to speechreading ability among young deaf children. Tests of visual closure, movement closure, and short term memory were administered to a group of deaf 7, 8, and 9 year old good speechreaders (N = 18) and to a group of poor speechreaders (N = 19) as determined by a speechreading test. Performances were compared using the Mann-Whitney U Test of Significance. Results indicated that good speechreaders are significantly superior to poor speechreaders on tests of visual closure, movement closure, and short term memory.