Oculomotor Training Improves Reading Eye Movement

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Children with reading eye movement problems were recruited for this study. The treatment group was provided with oculomotor training for 8 weeks, the control group was given placebo exercises.

Detailed Description
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Purpose of study Reading is one of the integral elements for learning and poor readers were reported to have less efficient reading eye movements. They were typically characterized by having higher number in fixation and regression, reduced reading speed and perceptual span. The purpose of this study was to investigate if vision therapy which limited to training of oculomotor skills can improve reading eye movement. Methodology This was a randomized, prospective study. 30 subjects aged from 8-9 years of age with reading difficulties and reading eye movement problems were recruited. They all have normal intelligence and ocular health, but failed to meet the Taylor reading eye movement norms when tested with the Visagraph III. The subjects were randomly assigned into either the treatment group (15) or the control group (15). The treatment group had to go through a course of oculomotor vision therapy and the control group was given placebo exercises. Vision therapy for the treatment group involved 8 weeks of training (office training - 3 times a week, 30 min per session; home training - 4 times a week, 30 min per session). Office training involved the use of Vis-Flex (Visual Flexibility Trainer - an electronic device with L.E.D. lights which can display various flashing patterns at variable speeds). Home training involved several saccadic eye movement exercises. Subjects and parents were also asked to grade the reading symptoms checklist before and after the training.

Official Title
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Oculomotor Training Improves Reading Eye Movement

Conditions
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Ocular Motility Disorders

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: oculomotor training
* Other: placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Reported by teachers or parents to have reading difficulties and failed to meet the Taylor reading eye movement norms when tested with the Visagraph III (below age norm for both fixation and regression number). Studying in mainstream primary schools (8-9 years of age) With normal near visual acuities for both eyes (with or without spectacles) Hyperopia below +4.00 D Myopia below -4.00 D Astigmatism below -2.00 D Anisometropia less than 2.0 D difference between the two eyes Near heterophoria within 0-4 exophoria Vertical heterophoria less than 1 prism dioptre Monocular amplitude of accommodation over 10 D in both eyes With parents who were willing to perform vision therapy exercises for the children at home on a regular basis Both genders were acceptable as Eden et al (1994) stated that gender had no effect on oculomotor skills Exclusion criteria: With strabismus Presence of eye diseases History of dyslexia (learning disability) or developmental delay

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 8 Years
Maximum Age: 9 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: experimental<br>oculomotor training | Other: oculomotor training<br>* a sequence of vision training exercises which focused mainly in oculomotor skill<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: control<br>placebo vision training exercises | Other: placebo<br>* placebo vision training exercises involving minimal accommodation and vergence eye movement.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in number of fixation and regression during reading after 8 weeks of oculomotor training | number of fixation and regression is measured by Visagraph per 100 words | 8 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in reading rate during reading after 8 weeks of oculomotor training | reading rate in number of words/min and fixation duration measured in seconds | 8 weeks | 
| Change in perceptual span (words per fixation) during reading after 8 weeks of oculomotor training | perceptual span measured in words per fixation | 8 weeks | 
| Change in fixation duration (seconds) during reading after 8 weeks of oculomotor training | fixation duration measured in seconds | 8 weeks | 
| Change in symptom scores after 8 weeks of oculomotor training | symptom scores is calculated with a scale of 0 to 4 for all the 8 items of manifested symptoms | 8 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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reading eye movement