The main goal of this study is to investigate whether visual perceptual learning, i.e. practicing a challenging visual task and thereby improving performance, transfers to improved reading and search performance in children with visual impairment.…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Congenital eye disorders (excl glaucoma)
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The main study parameter is the crowding ratio. This variable has our main
interest, because it is known that crowding imposes a fundamental limit on
reading, visual search and object recognition.
Secondary outcome
Secondary study parameters are visual acuity (sensory component), fixation
stability (motor component), saccade execution (motor component), and reading
performance (cognitive aspect).
Background summary
Children with visual impairment show stronger crowding than children with
normal vision; they have more difficulty identifying a suprathreshold object in
the presence of clutter. Children with visual impairment also show a lag in
their reading skills and longer visual search times than age-matched peers with
normal vision. Recent studies demonstrate the potential prospects of perceptual
learning to improve visual functions. However, it is still unclear which
mechanisms are responsible for these improvements.
Study objective
The main goal of this study is to investigate whether visual perceptual
learning, i.e. practicing a challenging visual task and thereby improving
performance, transfers to improved reading and search performance in children
with visual impairment. The second aim is to investigate which mechanisms
underlie these improvements, and to investigate whether they are caused by
oculomotor, sensory and/or cognitive mechanisms.
Study design
Non-randomized controlled trial.
Intervention
Children with visual impairment will be divided in two groups: (i) an
experimental group (n=30), and (ii) a control group (n=30). The groups will be
trained during 5 weeks, with 2 training sessions per week (10x 1h training
sessions in total). The experimental group will be given a different training
paradigm with small element spacing, thereby evoking crowding. The control
group will follow a training program where spacing is large and no crowding is
evoked. Children with normal vision will only be seen once and will serve as a
reference group.
Study burden and risks
Children will visit the institute twice for a pre- and post-test. These visits
will consist of a short ophthalmological examination (max. 30 minutes), and
experimental measurements (max. 60 minutes). Training sessions will occur at
school. The benefits of participation are that visual functions are likely to
improve. This gain might be beneficial for children with visual impairment.
Training sessions will consist of half an hour net practice and will be
child-friendly, in order to make sure that participation will not put a strong
burden on children.
Geert Grooteplein 21
Nijmegen 6525 EZ
NL
Geert Grooteplein 21
Nijmegen 6525 EZ
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
-Age 6-10 years:
-Normal birth weight;
-Birth at term;
-No perinatal complications;
-Normal development;
-No motor or intellectual impairments.
Exclusion criteria
-motor or mental impairment;
-children with normal vision: distance visual acuity <20/25 or 0.80.
-children with visual impairment: distance visual acuity <20/400 or >20/40
-dyslexia.
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL49432.091.14 |
| OMON | NL-OMON21908 |