Behavioral and electrophysiological processing of sequential tones were investigated in reading delayed (RD) and non-reading delayed (NRD) children matched on intelligence and reading level. NRD children performed consistently better on sequencing of tonal patterns. Middle latency event-related potentials from the RD group indicated reduced latency of the Na waveform generated by the second of two sequential stimuli at short compared to longer inter-stimulus intervals. The latency of this peak was correlated to performance on the sequencing task. These results were interpreted as indicative of a lack of normal inhibition by the RD group of the second sequentially presented tone. (Five references) (Author)