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Validation of a computerized version of the MNREAD chart for children
Marcelo Fernandes Costa1,2, Leonardo Dutra Henriques3, Givago Silva Souza4
1Departamento de Psicologia Experimental, Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil. costamf@usp.br.
Insights
A new computerized MNREAD test accurately assesses children's reading speed. This digital tool shows similar results to the physical chart, offering improved assessment quality for clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
- Human Factors
Background:
- The Minnesota Normal Reading English Assessment (MNREAD) is a standard tool for evaluating reading performance.
- Assessing reading speed in children is crucial for identifying learning difficulties and visual impairments.
- Digitalizing traditional eye charts can enhance usability and data collection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a computerized version of the MNREAD for assessing reading speed in children.
- To compare the performance of the computerized MNREAD with the traditional physical chart.
- To establish normative data for the computerized MNREAD in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- A computerized MNREAD was developed using Psykinematix software, mirroring the physical chart's parameters.
- Reading velocity was measured in 104 children across 3rd and 5th grades.
- Bland-Altman analysis was employed to assess agreement between the physical and computerized versions.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in Maximum Reading Speed, Critical Print Size, and Reading Acuity between 3rd and 5th graders.
- No significant differences were found between the physical and computerized MNREAD versions within each grade level.
- Bland-Altman analysis indicated high agreement between the two versions, with 95% of data points within ±2 s of the mean difference.
Conclusions:
- The computerized MNREAD is a valid and reliable tool for assessing reading speed in children.
- The digital format may offer improved assessment quality, as suggested by higher reading speed values in 5th graders compared to previous studies.
- Calculated Tolerance Limits provide normative references for clinical applications.
Purpose:
We aimed the develop and validate a computerized version of the MNREAD for the assessment of reading speed for children.
Methods:
A computerized version of the MNREAD was built in Psykinematix software using the same parameters as the physical chart. We measured the reading velocity of 104 children (n = 44 of the 3rd grade; n = 60 of the 5th grade). Bland-Altaman analysis was used to quantify agreement between two chart measurements.
Results:
Comparison between the 3rd and 5th-grade children for physical and computerized MNREAD versions showed statistical differences in Maximum Reading Speed (F = 2669.6; p < 0.001), Critical Print Size (F = 17.49; p < 0.001), and Reading Acuity (F = 14.19; p = 0.002) with huge effect size (η2 = 0.930). No differences were found between the versions within grades. Bland-Altman analysis showed 95% of the data points within ± 2 s of the mean difference, suggesting a similarity between versions of the MNREAD parameters.
Conclusion:
Our reading speed values for children in the 5th grade were higher than previous studies, suggesting a better quality of the assessment in the computerized version. Tolerance Limits were calculated as normality references for clinical purposes.
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