Dr. Catts’ research interests include the early identification and prevention of language-based reading disabilities. He is currently involved in three longitudinal investigations related to early identification. In one project, he and his co-investigators are developing and evaluating a multivariate longitudinal assessment designed to screen for dyslexia and other language and literacy difficulties. This project is funded through a subcontract from Harvard U/MIT. In a related project, funded by a subcontract from University of California San Francisco, he and colleagues are validating a screening assessment to identify children at risk for dyslexia in the State of California.   In another project, he is working with colleagues in the Psychology Department to identify and follow approximately 250 toddlers with a family history of dyslexia and/or language impairment. This project, funded by NIH as part of the Florida Learning Disabilities Research Center, uses child, familial, and environmental data to model the co-development of language and pre-literacy skills and their relationship to the emergence of early reading achievement.  In addition to these projects, he continues to work with colleagues and students on projects related reading comprehension development and disorders.

• Ph.D., 1979, University of Florida, Speech
• M.A., 1977, University of Florida, Speech
• B.A., 1975, University of Florida, Psychology

Clinical Certification

Certificate of Clinical Competence – Speech-Language Pathology American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 1991-

Language/Literacy and Reading Disorders: Early Identification and Prevention of Language-Based Reading Disabilities