title: The Effect of In-School Saccadic Training on Reading Fluency and Comprehension in First and Second Grade Students.
abstract: Efficient eye movements provide a physical foundation for proficient reading skills. We investigated the effect of in-school saccadic training on reading performance. In this cross-over design, study participants (n = 327, 165 males; mean age [SD]: 7 y 6 mo [1y 1 mo]) were randomized into treatment and control groups, who then underwent eighteen 20-minute training sessions over 5 weeks using King-Devick Reading Acceleration Program Software. Pre- and posttreatment reading assessments included fluency, comprehension, and rapid number naming performance. The treatment group had significantly greater improvement than the control group in fluency (6.2% vs 3.6%, P = .0277) and comprehension (7.5% vs 1.5%, P = .0002). The high-needs student group significantly improved in fluency ( P < .001) and comprehension ( P < .001). We hypothesize these improvements to be attributed to the repetitive practice of reading-related eye movements, shifting visuospatial attention, and visual processing. Consideration should be given to teaching the physical act of reading within the early education curriculum.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dodick
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Amaal J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Starling
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wethe
authors.affiliation: 2 Illinois Eye Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: 2 Illinois Eye Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Leonard V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Messner
authors.affiliation: 3 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Master
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Rashmi B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Halker-Singh
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Bert B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bogle
authors.affiliation: 5 Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mandrekar
authors.affiliation: 6 King-Devick Test, Inc, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talaber
authors.affiliation: 2 Illinois Eye Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.|6 King-Devick Test, Inc, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leong
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D032882:Comprehension; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D011932:Reading; D012438:Saccades; D012574:Schools; D012984:Software; D013663:Teaching; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: eye movements; intervention; randomized controlled trial; reading; saccadic training