title: Mobile app reading speed test.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To validate the accuracy and repeatability of a mobile app reading speed test compared with the traditional paper version.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one subjects wearing their full refractive correction glasses read 14 sentences of decreasing print size between 1.0 and -0.1 logMAR, each consisting of 14 words (Radner reading speed test) at 40 cm with a paper-based chart and twice on iPad charts. Time duration was recorded with a stop watch for the paper chart and on the App itself for the mobile chart allowing critical print size (CPS) and optimal reading speed (ORS) to be derived objectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ORS was higher for the mobile app charts (194±29 wpm; 195±25 wpm) compared with the paper chart (166±20 wpm; F=57.000, p<0.001). The CPS was lower for the mobile app charts (0.17±0.20 logMAR; 0.18±0.17 logMAR) compared with the paper chart (0.25±0.17 logMAR; F=5.406, p=0.009). The mobile app test had a mean difference repeatability of 0.30±22.5 wpm, r=0.917 for ORS, and a CPS of 0.0±0.2 logMAR, r=0.769.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeatability of the app reading speed test is as good (ORS) or better (CPS) than previous studies on the paper test. While the results are not interchangeable with paper-based charts, mobile app tablet-based tests of reading speed are reliable and rapid to perform, with the potential to capture functional visual ability in research studies and clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Research Group, Department of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Alec
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kingsnorth
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Research Group, Department of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wolffsohn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063731:Mobile Applications; D011327:Printing / Q000295:instrumentation; D011930:Reaction Time; D011932:Reading; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diagnostic tests/Investigation; Vision