READING ACHIEVEMENT FOLLOWING PERSONAL INJURY: SOME AUSTRALIAN DATA

This study examined the reading achievement of compensation claimants in Australia using the Wide Range Achievement Test–Fifth Edition (WRAT-5). Participants (81 female, 155 male), aged 16–74 years, had sustained physical, psychological, or other injuries leading to compensation claims. The mean reading score was 51.3 (SD = 11.1), reflecting moderate word reading ability. Higher performance was observed among females, individuals with more years of schooling, and those from English-speaking backgrounds. Reading achievement was positively correlated with measures of cognitive capacity, including processing speed and general knowledge. Importantly, claimants who returned to work demonstrated significantly stronger word reading than those who remained unemployed. These findings suggest that literacy contributes to vocational rehabilitation and may influence employment outcomes following injury.