The effect of saccadic training on early reading fluency.
BACKGROUND
Eye movements are necessary for the physical act of reading and have been shown to relate to underlying cognitive and visuoattentional processes during reading. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of saccadic training using the King-Devick remediation software on reading fluency.


METHODS
In this prospective, single-blinded, randomized, crossover trial, a cohort of elementary students received standardized reading fluency testing pre- and posttreatment. Treatment consisted of in-school training 20 minutes per day, 3 days per week for 6 weeks.


RESULTS
The treatment group had significantly higher reading fluency scores after treatment (P < .001), and posttreatment scores were significantly higher than the control group (P < .005).


CONCLUSIONS
Saccadic training can significantly improve reading fluency. We hypothesize that this improvement in reading fluency is a result of rigorous practice of eye movements and shifting visuospatial attention, which are vital to the act of reading.
King-Devick Test, LLC, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, USA dleong@kingdevicktest.com.
Danielle F
DF
Leong
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Christina L
CL
Master
Illinois Eye Institute, Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL, USA.
Leonard V
LV
Messner
Illinois Eye Institute, Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL, USA.
Yi
Y
Pang
Aegis Creative, Lakewood, CO, USA Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
Craig
C
Smith
Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Amaal J
AJ
Starling
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011932:Reading; D012438:Saccades; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012984:Software
eye movements; reading fluency; remediation; saccades