The effect of oculomotor training on reading efficiency

The purpose of this study was to record and measure, by means of a microcomputer, the reading eye movements and reading efficiency of a sample of "poor readers" from an adult, professional school population. A program of oculomotor skill enhancement training was given to 10 students who failed an academically appropriate reading test. Their pre- and post-training reading performance was compared to that of a group of students who also failed the reading test but received no such training. All subjects' eye movements were monitored and recorded individually while reading, using a Visagraph Eye-Movement Recording System. The subjects were split into an experimental group (receiving training) and a control group (receiving no training). Following a 12-hour program of "in office" and "home" training, the group receiving oculomotor training showed trends toward improved reading eye movement efficiency (number of regressions, number of fixations and span of recognition), compared to that of the untrained group.