Dysli, Denise-Muriel; Vogel, Nicolas; Abegg, Mathias (2014). Reading performance is not affected by a prism induced increase of horizontal and vertical vergence demand. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 8, p. 431. Frontiers Research Foundation 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00431
|
Text
fnhum-08-00431.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY). Download (1MB) | Preview |
PURPOSE
Dyslexia is the most common developmental reading disorder that affects language skills. Latent strabismus (heterophoria) has been suspected to be causally involved. Even though phoria correction in dyslexic children is commonly applied, the evidence in support of a benefit is poor. In order to provide experimental evidence on this issue, we simulated phoria in healthy readers by modifying the vergence tone required to maintain binocular alignment.
METHODS
Vergence tone was altered with prisms that were placed in front of one eye in 16 healthy subjects to induce exophoria, esophoria, or vertical phoria. Subjects were to read one paragraph for each condition, from which reading speed was determined. Text comprehension was tested with a forced multiple choice test. Eye movements were recorded during reading and subsequently analyzed for saccadic amplitudes, saccades per 10 letters, percentage of regressive (backward) saccades, average fixation duration, first fixation duration on a word, and gaze duration.
RESULTS
Acute change of horizontal and vertical vergence tone does neither significantly affect reading performance nor reading associated eye movements.
CONCLUSION
Prisms in healthy subjects fail to induce a significant change of reading performance. This finding is not compatible with a role of phoria in dyslexia. Our results contrast the proposal for correcting small angle heterophorias in dyslexic children.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Ophthalmology |
UniBE Contributor: |
Dysli, Denise-Muriel, Abegg, Mathias |
Subjects: |
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health |
ISSN: |
1662-5161 |
Publisher: |
Frontiers Research Foundation |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Sebastian Wolf |
Date Deposited: |
05 May 2015 14:31 |
Last Modified: |
05 Dec 2022 14:45 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.3389/fnhum.2014.00431 |
PubMed ID: |
24987346 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
dyslexia,reading,vergence,strabismus,phoria |
BORIS DOI: |
10.7892/boris.67500 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/67500 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit item |