<h3>vand den Bos et al (2002)</h3>

<p>van den Bos et al (2002) summarises research over various ages. 
They reported:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The reading task was to read in 1 min, as fast and accurately as
  possible, the unique and unrepeated words of a stan- dardized
  word-reading test. Results indicate that word-reading speed and naming
  speeds of colors and pictures continue to increase into mature
  adulthood.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Figure 1 (shown below) indicates that reading speed got quicker over time.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/LRNvC.png" alt="reading speed by age"></p>

<p>They conclude with :</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>This is interpreted as supporting the the- ory that describes reading
  recognition development as a domain-specific learning process with
  reciprocally facilitating links to alphanumeric symbol-naming speed
  development.</p>
</blockquote>

<h3>References</h3>

<ul>
<li>van den Bos, K. P., Zijlstra, B. J., &amp; lutje Spelberg, H. C. (2002). Life-span data on continuous-naming speeds of numbers, letters, colors, and pictured objects, and word-reading speed. Scientific Studies of Reading, 6(1), 25-49.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-14T16:46:51.970Z
So somewhere just after 16, as the (12-16) difference is slightly bigger than the (16-46) difference on letters. Funny that this maturation moment, when one reads as an adult, had not been investigated more systematically. Thanks Jeromy - the picture/word contrast is very interesting too.
marsei
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-14T04:02:28.590Z
2013-12-14T04:02:28.590Z
Jeromy Anglim
<p>A kid who just started to read puts a lot of effort in processing sentences. These efforts will decrease as he/she gets older and, at some point (around 12, 15?), will read as fast as an adult.</p>

<p><strong>Is there an age when reading speed becomes stable enough to be considered as adult speed?</strong></p>

<p>My guess is that it should depend on each individual (particular pleasure/difficulty to read, variable exposition to written material), but there should be an average measure. I searched the web for some references without success - maybe this question was answered long before the digital era.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-13T16:28:14.607Z
True. I'am more interested in central tendencies. The one that is useful to depart the best readers from normal readers.
marsei
<learning><developmental-psychology><reading><reaction-time>
At what age do children typically reach adult reading speed?
marsei
# At what age do children typically reach adult reading speed?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-13)

A kid who just started to read puts a lot of effort in processing sentences. These efforts will decrease as he/she gets older and, at some point (around 12, 15?), will read as fast as an adult.

**Is there an age when reading speed becomes stable enough to be considered as adult speed?**

My guess is that it should depend on each individual (particular pleasure/difficulty to read, variable exposition to written material), but there should be an average measure. I searched the web for some references without success - maybe this question was answered long before the digital era.

**Tags:** learning, developmental-psychology, reading, reaction-time

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: True. I'am more interested in central tendencies. The one that is useful to depart the best readers from normal readers.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-14. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

### vand den Bos et al (2002)

van den Bos et al (2002) summarises research over various ages.
They reported:

> The reading task was to read in 1 min, as fast and accurately as
> possible, the unique and unrepeated words of a stan- dardized
> word-reading test. Results indicate that word-reading speed and naming
> speeds of colors and pictures continue to increase into mature
> adulthood.

Figure 1 (shown below) indicates that reading speed got quicker over time.

![reading speed by age](https://i.sstatic.net/LRNvC.png)

They conclude with :

> This is interpreted as supporting the the- ory that describes reading
> recognition development as a domain-specific learning process with
> reciprocally facilitating links to alphanumeric symbol-naming speed
> development.

### References

* van den Bos, K. P., Zijlstra, B. J., & lutje Spelberg, H. C. (2002). Life-span data on continuous-naming speeds of numbers, letters, colors, and pictured objects, and word-reading speed. Scientific Studies of Reading, 6(1), 25-49.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So somewhere just after 16, as the (12-16) difference is slightly bigger than the (16-46) difference on letters. Funny that this maturation moment, when one reads as an adult, had not been investigated more systematically. Thanks Jeromy - the picture/word contrast is very interesting too.  

---

