Diagnostic performance of a modified visual perception test

Abstract

Background During the process of learning to read, the dorsal pathway assesses the visual word form area (VWFA) in focussing on each letter and its sequence. Children with learning difficulty such as dyslexia have immature processing in these areas of the brain. The aim of the study is to modify the dynamic perceptual test to increase its diagnostic value to differentiate between dyslexic and non-dyslexic children. Methods Forty children were included divided into two subgroups, control group consists of 20 good reading skills children and study group consists of 20 dyslexic children according to the Arabic version of the dyslexia assessment. All children underwent psychometric, dyslexic evaluation, Phonological awareness skills assessment and the modified dynamic visual perception. Results There was statistically significant different between groups on saccadic and distractor tasks. The performance of control children was better than dyslexic children for identification of the optotype presented to them as well as the colour of the arrow. Conclusion The distractor direction and colour was the most specific in the modified dynamic perception in differentiating dyslexic from non-dyslexic children.