Improving visual skills: II-remote assessment via Internet.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Poor readers frequently exhibit visual skill deficits, including binocular coordination and oculomotor control.
• Student visual skills are infrequently assessed, despite the potential of computer-based tools for identification.
• This study evaluated the efficacy of an Internet-based orthoptics program for assessing visual skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic accuracy of an Internet-based computer orthoptics program with traditional on-site vision therapy assessments.
• To determine if remote assessment of visual skills can effectively identify students with reading difficulties.

Main Methods:

• Forty-one students in grades 1-8, reading below grade level, were assessed by an on-site vision therapist and a remote investigator using an Internet-based program.
• The on-site therapist evaluated binocular fusion and tracking ability through clinical observation.
• The remote investigator assessed accommodative facility, tracking, and vergence skills via the computer program's modules.

Main Results:

• The on-site therapist referred 80% of students for potential visual skills training.
• The remote assessment identified 61% of students, with all referrals aligning with the on-site therapist's findings (no false positives).
• The on-site therapist's higher referral rate was attributed to behavioral observations.

Conclusions:

• Remote visual skill assessment using an Internet orthoptics program offers a practical method for identifying visual problems in struggling readers.
• This technology holds promise for early detection and intervention in students with reading impairments.