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Details
Purpose
Examines the underlying cognitive and linguistic processes that support proficient reading skills
Authors
Steven G. Feifer, DEd; Professional Manual by Steven G. Feifer, DEd, and Rebecca Gerhardstein Nader, PhD
Administration Formats
Additional Details
Evaluate for Reading Disorders and Identify the Specific Subtype of Dyslexia
The FAR is a comprehensive assessment of reading and related processes. It is unique in that it helps you determine the examinee's specific subtype of dyslexia to inform decisions about appropriate interventions.
- The original comprehensive reading assessment using a neurodevelopmental approach
- Score online in minutes with PARiConnect
- Provide targeted interventions with the FAR Interpretive Report
Features and benefits
- Based on the premise that treatments for reading disorders vary by dyslexia subtype. The FAR measures four subtypes of reading disorders: Dysphonetic dyslexia, surface dyslexia, mixed dyslexia, and reading comprehension deficits.
- Takes a neurodevelopmental approach to reading, which suggests that multiple neural pathways underscore various aspects of the reading process such as phonemic awareness, fluency, decoding, and comprehension.
- Comprises 15 individual subtests measuring various aspects of vocabulary, phonological awareness, decoding skills, rapid automatic naming, orthographical processing, morphological processing, word memory, reading fluency (word and story; silent and oral), and comprehension skills.
- Enables you to conduct an item-level skills and error analysis of the examinee's scores on specific subtests and to take a more in-depth look at his or her reading-related behaviors.
- Can be used for an array of purposes, including general screening of dyslexia, progress monitoring of discrete skills for school systems operating in an RTI paradigm, diagnosis of a learning disability as part of a comprehensive psychological evaluation, and design of a deficit- or skill-specific intervention.
- A separate in-person or remote screening form is designed to identify children at risk for developmental dyslexia and measure the underlying processes of reading. Screening Form is composed of three subtests: one from the Phonological Index (Phonemic Awareness); one from the Fluency Index (Rapid Automatic Naming); and one from the Comprehension Index (Semantic Concepts).
Practice support resources
- School psychologists, learn how the FAR helps identify reading disorders, including dyslexia, and develop appropriate interventions in our infographic!
- In-Person e-Stimulus Books and Kits are convenient, more hygienic alternatives to paper administration that allow you to administer the FAR face-to-face via tablet. Be sure to download the white paper prior to administering.
- The FAR Laminated Storybook—included in the FAR Comprehensive Kit—allows for easier sanitation and clean-up of materials after student use. It is also available for individual purchase.
- Read our white paper to learn more about using built-in skills, error, and behavior analyses with the FAR and the FAM to help you develop even more effective reading and math interventions!
- Visit PAR Training to view a FAR interactive course and to access pronunciation guides for various FAR subtests.
- The Neuropsychology of Reading Disorders: A Compendium of Research-Based Interventions, by Steven G. Feifer, DEd, delves into the neural underpinnings of reading disorders and dyslexia in children and adolescents.
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FAQs
What is the technical information for the FAR?
Test structure
- Five index scores are generated: the Phonological Index, the Fluency Index, the Comprehension Index, the Mixed Index (a composite of Phonological and Fluency index scores), and the FAR Total Index (a composite of all subtest scores).
- Examinees in prekindergarten take eight subtests, examinees in kindergarten to Grade 1 take 11 subtests, and examinees in Grade 2 to college take 14 subtests.
- You can choose to administer the full battery or, for a shorter administration time, only the subtests associated with an individual reading index, or individual subtests.
- Reliable change and discrepancy scores can be calculated.
- Includes clinical samples of more than 120 students with learning problems, ADHD, and intellectual developmental disorder.
- Online scoring is available on PARiConnect.
Administration time
- 35 minutes for PK
- 60 minutes for K-Grade 1
- 75 minutes for Grade 2+
- 15-20 minutes for Screening Form
Choose to administer the full battery or, for a shorter administration time, only the subtests associated with an individual reading index, or individual subtests.
Technical information
- Offers grade-based norms (with age proxies provided); age and grade equivalents for subtest scores; and confidence intervals, percentile ranks, z scores, and normal curve equivalents (NCEs) for index scores.
- Subtest and index scores are scaled to the familiar IQ metric (M = 100; SD = 15).
- Standardized on a sample of 1,074 examinees in prekindergarten to college drawn from more than 30 states using a population-proportionate, stratified random sampling plan based on 2012 U.S. Census statistics.
- The FAR subtests have median reliability coefficients that range from .67 to .95, the majority of which are in the upper .80s and .90s, indicating an overall high degree of internal consistency.
- The FAR demonstrates consistent relationships in the expected direction and magnitude with a variety of external variables including grade; other reading tests; and measures of achievement, memory, and intelligence.
- Predictive validity analysis of learning disability demonstrated a significant discriminant function, with an overall classification rate of 96.7%.
Video - Why use the FAR to test for dyslexia and other reading disorders?
FAR author, Dr. Steven Feifer, explains what the Feifer Assessment of Reading offers that other tests for dyslexia do not, and why it is not just another reading test.
Listen as he articulates that the FAR is a diagnostic achievement test that doesn't simply give you a student's reading level, but tells you why the student is at that level, which leads to better intervention selection.
FAR author, Dr. Steven Feifer, explains what the Feifer Assessment of Reading offers that other tests for dyslexia do not, and why it is not just another reading test. He shares that the FAR is a diagnostic achievement test that doesn't simply give you a student's reading level, but tells you WHY the student is at that level, which leads to better intervention selection.Video - What happens if I administer a test that only looks at dyslexia?
The FAR offers a broad assessment of reading that includes more than dyslexia.
Hear from Dr. Steven Feifer about how this approach to reading assessment presents a more detailed view of where your student may be struggling.
Video - How does the FAR identify different types of reading disorders?
The FAR is based on the theory of reading and evaluating multiple pathways of reading is one way the it provides more accurate test results.
Watch as Dr. Steven Feifer explains how the FAR combines neuroscience and education to test for the primary processing components of reading.
Video - Why is the neurodevelopmental approach important when testing for dyslexia and other reading disorders?
The FAR™ is based on cognitive processes in the brain, a neurodevelopmental approach to reading which best answers the why a student struggles with reading, which helps practitioners figure out how to treat it.
Hear Dr. Steven Feifer talk about the importance of the neurodevelopmental approach when you test for dyslexia and other reading disorders. He discusses how the FAR™ investigates all pathways in the brain that contribute to reading and comprehension to help you better understand what is hindering your student from learning.
Video - How can PARiConnect help me score and interpret the FAR?
PARiConnect helps streamline the administration, scoring, and report generation of the FAR.
In this video, Dr. Steven Feifer highlights PARiConnect features that will simplify and improve your assessment by providing an instant and custom 25-page interpretive report.
"It only takes about 3 minutes to take the raw scores, add them up and transfer into PARiConnect. Instantly, you can choose from several reports: interpretive, comprehensive score, and reliable change. If you are craving practical strategies that you can start tomorrow to help improve your student's reading skills, I encourage you to administer the FAR."
- Steven G. Feifer, DEd
Video - Why you need to measure with the 15 subtests in the FAR
Most reading assessments contain 3-4 subtests, the FAR is a diagnostic reading test, therefore it has 15.
Hear Dr. Steven Feifer walk through the importance of the 15 subtest topics, and how they enable you to do more for your students.
Video - How to monitor your student’s reading progress over time
Watch as Dr. Steven Feifer shares how the FAR™ can reliably monitor your student’s progress and measure how your chosen intervention has affected their scores. He explains that it does this through the Reliable Change Index, and it is just one more way the FAR™ stands out from other reading tests.
Video - What makes the FAR a unique test for dyslexia and other reading disorders?
Hear Dr. Steven Feifer explain how the FAR tests beyond just reading ability to reveal why your student is struggling with reading.
Video - Are writing and reading issues related? Use the FAR and the FAW together.
According to the Interactive Dynamic Literacy (IDL) Model, yes they are. While there are unique processes and skills in reading and writing, largely these skills have shared processes. According to the IDL a student with dyslexia can also have written composition difficulties. Also, executive functions such as working memory and attention can play a part in both reading and writing.
Listen as Dr. Steven Feifer discusses why the FAR and FAW work perfectly together when you have a referral for a language-based learning disability. They are both based on neuropsychological theory, seek to address processing issues and can be used to help diagnose dyslexia and executive functioning issues. Find out where weaknesses are in writing and reading and then review the prescriptive interventions recommended for the best path forward. He explains how the FAR looks at four subtypes of reading disorders while the FAW looks at three subtypes of written language disorders.
Video - What are the advantages of administering the FAW, FAR, and FAM together?
When the FAW, FAR, and FAM are used together, you get valuable information in less time that allows you to more holistically assess your students for reading, writing, and math disorders. Based on a neuropsychological theory of reading, writing, and math, the Feifer family of products reveals the root of your student's struggles and generates interpretive reports to aid in your intervention decision making. Hear more from test author Dr. Steve Feifer in this video.
Video - Why should you integrate the FAR, FAW and FAM into your practice?
Teachers, parents, and students want more than what competing tests of reading, writing, and math offer. The Feifer family of products is designed to work together to get to the heart of the struggle and answer why a student is struggling with learning. Learn about the advantages of integrating the FAR, FAM, and FAW into your practice from test author Dr. Feifer in this video.
What features can I expect from the FAR Interpretive Report?
- Available through PARiConnect, the FAR Interpretive Report provides scores for all 15 FAR subtests and includes detailed interpretations of index, index discrepancy, and subtest scores.
- Provides targeted reading interventions that are based on current reading research and tailored to your student's age and FAR scores.
- Save time by easily copying and pasting recommendations into your own report.
What are your state's dyslexia requirements?
Explore dyslexia legislation and related initiatives in the U.S. Administer the FAR and the FAW to assess why your student has a learning issue and pinpoint the type of dyslexia.
How does PARiConnect help me score the FAR and quickly receive interventions?
It only takes about 3 minutes to take the raw scores, add them up and transfer into PARiConnect. Instantly, you can choose from several reports: interpretive, comprehensive score, and reliable change. If you are craving practical strategies that you can start tomorrow to help improve your student's reading skills, I encourage you to administer the FAR.
- Steven G. Feifer, DEd
Do reading and writing issues go hand in hand?
According to the Interactive Dynamic Literacy (IDL) Model, yes they do. While there are unique processes and skills in reading and writing, largely these skills have shared processes. According to the IDL a student with dyslexia can also have written composition difficulties. Also, executive functions such as working memory and attention can play a part in both reading and writing. The FAR and FAW work perfectly together when you have a referral for a language-based learning disability. They both are based on neuropsychological theory, seek to address processing issues and can be used to help diagnose dyslexia and executive functioning issues. Find out where weaknesses are in writing and reading and then review prescriptive interventions recommended for the best path forward.
What subtypes of reading disorders does the FAR measure?
The FAR as it measures four subtypes of reading disorders: Phonological dyslexia, surface dyslexia, mixed dyslexia, and comprehension issues.
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