EEG power spectra were studied in two poor-reading adolescent groups (dysphonetic and phonetic) as the students viewed strings of letters and easy words (seven categories). The students ranged in age from 12 to 16 years; 29 were male, 9 were female. Bilateral results are reported from frontal, parietal, and occipital regions. Significant Group x Hemisphere effects were found in the alpha and beta bands, with the phonetic group showing right greater than left asymmetry. This finding was interpreted to reflect more circumscribed and mature processing in the phonetically abler poor readers, given that normally reading adults typically show right greater than left asymmetry in word tasks. Overall, the dysphonetic group had higher beta power than the phonetic group, which may reflect greater effort.