Improving visual skills: II-remote assessment via Internet.
BACKGROUND
Even though poor readers often have poor visual skills, such as binocular coordination and oculomotor control, students' visual skills are rarely assessed. Computer assessments have the potential to assist in identifying students whose visual skills are deficient. This study compared assessments made by an Internet-based computer orthoptics program with those of an on-site vision therapist.


METHODS
Students (N = 41) in grades 1 through 8, reading at least 2 levels below grade, were assessed for visual skill dysfunction (including binocular fusion and tracking ability) by a vision therapist at their school in Wisconsin. The therapist determined whether the student had adequate visual skills based on clinical and behavioral observations. A "remote" investigator located in California determined the adequacy of accommodative facility, tracking, and vergence skills in the same students, based on quantitative progress through the modules of an Internet-based computer orthoptics training program during 3 assessment sessions.


RESULTS
The on-site therapist made 33 referrals for possible visual skills training (80%). The remote investigator made 25 referrals (61%), all of which were consistent with referrals made by the on-site therapist; thus, no false-positives occurred when using the remote assessment technique. The 8 additional referrals by the therapist were attributed to the ability to observe student behavior during assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
Remote assessment of visual skills via an Internet orthoptics program may provide a simple means to detect visual skill problems experienced by poor readers.
Powers
Maureen K
MK
Gemstone Foundation Research Institute, Rodeo, California 94572, USA. maureenpowers@gemstonefoundation.org
Grisham
J David
JD
Wurm
Janice K
JK
Wurm
William C
WC
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009988:Orthoptics / Q000379:methods*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D015348:Vision, Binocular