PURPOSE:
to determine whether changes in eye movement and vestibular- ocular reflex are related to the difficulty of reading and writing.
METHODS:
18 subjects of both genders, aged between nine and 14 years of age with hearing and static visual acuity within normal limits were selected: one group of 11 subjects with reading and writing and other composite control group seven subjects without difficulty. The tests included evaluations of written language, static and dynamic visual acuity, audiological and eye movements.
RESULTS:
static visual acuity, calibration, spontaneous and semi- spontaneous nystagmus were within the normal range throughout the study population. Proofs of dynamic visual acuity and saccades showed statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the groups, while the smooth-persuit eye movements showed changes in both groups, with no statistical difference.
CONCLUSION:
alterations in eye movement, as well as poor performance of the vestibulo-ocular reflex shown in dynamic visual acuity may be interfering with the difficulty of the development of reading and writing.
Reading; Saccadic Movements; Visual Acuity; Writing
