Visual Attention Span Mobilisation for Dyslexia

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficiency of the medical device MAEVAD in improving the reading skills of children with dyslexia.

Detailed Description
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MAEVAD is a digital therapy specifically designed to improve the visual attention (VA) span of children with dyslexia. Dyslexia is characterized by a specific and significant impairment in reading and/or writing production and spelling. Some profiles of children with dyslexia show a deficit in VA span, characterized by a decrease in the number of distinct visual elements that can be processed simultaneously. VA span plays a critical role in the acquisition of reading skills and specific knowledge of word spelling. Brain regions involved in visual-attentional skills are under-activated in dyslexic children with VA deficits and can be reactivated following specific and intensive VA span training. In this study 150 children with dyslexia will be randomized in tow groups. On the first group children will be trained first with MAEVAD then with a control training that does not stimulate the VA span. On contrary, on the second group children will first perform the control training and then MAEVAD. For each intervention the sessions will lasts 15 minutes. 5 sessions are planned per weeks for 6 weeks.

Official Title
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Maevad - Mobilisation Active de l'Empan Visuo-Attentionel Pour la Dyslexie

Conditions
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Dyslexia, Visual Attention Span Deficit

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: MAEVAD
* Device: DeCaLigne


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: School children from CE2 to CM2, aged 8 to 11 years Dyslexic children with a VA span deficit (composite visual-attention span below the fifteenth percentile and a letter threshold above or equal to the twentieth percentile with the - - - Evadys(c) battery) Established diagnosis of Dyslexia Children whose parents/legal guardians have signed informed consent and agree to participate in the study Children whose first language is French or who have been educated in French since kindergarten Raven's Progressive Matrices score above the 20th percentile or a WISC IV or V Verbal Comprehension Index or WISC IV or V Perceptual/Fluid Reasoning Index above 85 or documented/objectifiable absence of intellectual deficit Child with access to a computer Normal or corrected vision and audition Exclusion Criteria: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,dysphasia, dyspraxia, Autism Spectrum Disorder Neurological disorders Children who have missed 3 months or more of school in the current or previous year (excluding lockdown) Children not affiliated to a social security scheme

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 8 Years
Maximum Age: 11 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Interventional Model Description: On the first group children will be trained first with MAEVAD then with a control training that does not stimulate the VA span. On contrary, on the second group children will first perform the control training and then MAEVAD. For each intervention the sessions will lasts 15 minutes. 5 sessions are planned per weeks for 6 weeks.
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: MAEVAD - DeCaLigne<br>The experimental group will first receive MAEVAD then the control therapy | Device: MAEVAD<br>* MAEVAD is a training device which aims to improve VA span as a prerequisite for learning to read. By increasing the number of distinct visual elements that can be processed simultaneously during fixation, MAEVAD is intended to improve the reading (accuracy and fluency) and spelling (lexical) performance of dyslexics who have a VA span deficit. MAEVAD is designed to be used in total autonomy by dyslexic children with a VA span disorder. The therapy takes place over 6 weeks with 5 sessions of 15 minutes per week. In order to improve compliance, the therapy has been integrated into le Royaume d'Adelia, a serious game where the child will be able to collect materials at the end of each session that will allow him to create objects to customise a character.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: DeCaLigne - MAEVAD<br>The control group will first receive the control therapy then MAEVAD | Device: DeCaLigne<br>* DéCaLigne is an intervention programme for the discovery of calculation with the number line. The objectives are to improve numerical representations in the form of a number line and to improve addition and subtraction skills. The overall principle is to move numbers or calculation results on a number line. This training does not stimulate VA span or the phonological dimensions involved in reading. This therapy is being adapted to be used in total autonomy at home and to correspond to the MAEVAD therapy in duration (5 sessions of 15 minutes per week for 6 weeks). It has also been integrated into the royaume d'Adelia in order to control the motivational effect of the serious game.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reading speed | Measure of reding time from texts of 122 to 152 words | 10 weeks to baseline | 
| Reading speed | Measure of reding time from texts of 122 to 152 words | 18 weeks to baseline | 
| Reading speed | Measure of reding time from texts of 122 to 152 words | 26 weeks to baseline | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reading skills | Word and pseudoword reading tests (reding time and accuracy) Text reading (reading time and accuracy) | 10 weeks to baseline | 
| Reading skills | Word and pseudoword reading tests (reding time and accuracy) Text reading (reading time and accuracy) | 18 weeks to baseline | 
| Reading skills | Word and pseudoword reading tests (reding time and accuracy) Text reading (reading time and accuracy) | 26 weeks to baseline | 
| Orthographic skills | Lexical-spelling judgment (Accuracy and time) Words and pseudowords dictation (Accuracy) | 10 weeks to baseline | 
| Orthographic skills | Lexical-spelling judgment (Accuracy and time) Words and pseudowords dictation (Accuracy) | 18 weeks to baseline | 
| Orthographic skills | Lexical-spelling judgment (Accuracy and time) Words and pseudowords dictation (Accuracy) | 26 weeks to baseline | 
| VA Span | Evadys test : EVADYS(c) provides a reliable diagnosis of visual-attention span disorder. The software includes three versions of the global and partial report tests, each adapted to a given age group. | 10 weeks to baseline | 
| VA Span | Evadys test : EVADYS(c) provides a reliable diagnosis of visual-attention span disorder. The software includes three versions of the global and partial report tests, each adapted to a given age group. | 18 weeks to baseline | 
| VA Span | Evadys test : EVADYS(c) provides a reliable diagnosis of visual-attention span disorder. The software includes three versions of the global and partial report tests, each adapted to a given age group. | 26 weeks to baseline | 
| Phonologic skills | Evalec(c) test : The child will have to delete, orally, the first phoneme of the pseudowords presented on the screen. 12 pseudowords with a consonant-vowel-consonant structure and 12 with a consonant-consonant-vowel structure are presented one by one on the screen. | 10 weeks to baseline | 
| Phonologic skills | Evalec(c) test : The child will have to delete, orally, the first phoneme of the pseudowords presented on the screen. 12 pseudowords with a consonant-vowel-consonant structure and 12 with a consonant-consonant-vowel structure are presented one by one on the screen. | 18 weeks to baseline | 
| Phonologic skills | Evalec(c) test : The child will have to delete, orally, the first phoneme of the pseudowords presented on the screen. 12 pseudowords with a consonant-vowel-consonant structure and 12 with a consonant-consonant-vowel structure are presented one by one on the screen. | 26 weeks to baseline | 
| Mathematical skills | DeCaLigne(c) and Examath(c): The child will have to find the position of a number on a numerical line and answer mental calculation. | 10 weeks to baseline | 
| Mathematical skills | DeCaLigne(c) and Examath(c): The child will have to find the position of a number on a numerical line and answer mental calculation. | 18 weeks to baseline | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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MAEVAD, MAEVA, Reading, Remediation, Visual attention span